Isaac Newton
The apple and the universe — the life and revolutionary science of Isaac Newton.
Episodes
Legacy of a Legend: How Newton's Work Continues to Shape Our World
Explore how Sir Isaac Newton's groundbreaking scientific discoveries from the 17th century continue to influence our modern world. Dr Sarah Quinn examines Newton's three laws of motion and their applications in everything from automotive safety systems to space exploration missions. Discover how calculus, co-developed by Newton, powers today's technology including GPS systems, smartphone accelerom
The Royal Society Years: Politics, Power, and Scientific Revolution
Explore Isaac Newton's transformative years with the Royal Society of London, where scientific revolution met institutional politics. This episode examines Newton's complex relationship with Europe's premier scientific institution, from his controversial early papers on optics and heated exchanges with Robert Hooke, to his unprecedented 24-year presidency that reshaped British science. Discover ho
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Newton's Debt to Earlier Scientists
In this fascinating episode of Isaac Newton, Dr Sarah Quinn explores the brilliant minds who paved the way for Newton's groundbreaking discoveries. We examine Newton's famous quote about 'standing on the shoulders of giants' and identify exactly who those intellectual giants were. From Johannes Kepler's revolutionary laws of planetary motion to Galileo's foundational work on gravity and motion, we
The Hermit of Cambridge: Understanding Newton's Reclusive and Obsessive Nature
Explore the fascinating psychology behind Isaac Newton's groundbreaking discoveries in this deep dive into his reclusive and obsessive personality. Dr Sarah Quinn examines how Newton's hermit-like existence at Cambridge University both enabled and complicated his scientific work. From his eighteen months of isolation during the plague years that produced calculus and gravitational theory, to his b
Enemies and Rivalries: The Dark Side of Newton's Scientific Relationships
Explore the darker side of Isaac Newton's personality in this revealing episode about his bitter scientific rivalries and personal feuds. Dr Sarah Quinn examines Newton's most infamous conflicts, including his decades-long battle with Leibniz over the invention of calculus, his vindictive relationship with Robert Hooke over optics and gravity, and his harsh treatment of Astronomer Royal John Flams
The Mint Master: Newton's Surprising Second Career Fighting Counterfeiters
Discover Isaac Newton's lesser-known but fascinating second career as Master of the Royal Mint. In this episode, Dr Sarah Quinn explores how the legendary physicist became England's most effective counterfeiter hunter, transforming from theoretical scientist to practical crime fighter. Learn about Newton's role in the Great Recoinage of the 1690s, his detective work in London's underworld, and his
Beyond the Telescope: Newton's Secret Obsessions with Alchemy and Theology
Discover the hidden side of Sir Isaac Newton in this fascinating exploration of his secret passions for alchemy and theology. While Newton is celebrated for his groundbreaking work in physics and mathematics, he actually spent more time studying chemical transformations and biblical prophecy than developing scientific theories. Dr Sarah Quinn reveals how Newton's alchemical experiments in his Camb
The Principia: How One Book Changed Science Forever
Explore the revolutionary impact of Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, and discover how this single book transformed science forever. Dr. Sarah Quinn examines the three laws of motion, universal gravitation, and the mathematical framework that unified terrestrial and celestial mechanics for the first time in history. Learn about the book's immediate impact on contemporaries l
Seeing the Light: Newton's Groundbreaking Work in Optics and Color Theory
Explore Isaac Newton's revolutionary discoveries in optics and color theory in this fascinating episode of the Isaac Newton podcast. Dr Sarah Quinn examines how young Newton's experiments with prisms during the 1660s plague years completely overturned centuries of accepted wisdom about light and color. Learn about Newton's famous 'crucial experiment' that proved white light contains all colors of
The Calculus Wars: Newton vs Leibniz and the Battle for Mathematical Glory
Explore one of history's most explosive scientific controversies in this gripping episode about the calculus wars between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Dr Sarah Quinn examines how two mathematical geniuses independently developed calculus in the 17th century, sparking a bitter priority dispute that divided the scientific community for decades. Learn about Newton's secret development
Laws in Motion: How Newton Redefined Our Understanding of Movement
In this episode of Isaac Newton, Dr Sarah Quinn explores how Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion revolutionized our understanding of movement and force. Discover how Newton's Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, challenged two millennia of Aristotelian physics and introduced the groundbreaking concepts of inertia, force relationships, and action-reaction principles. Learn about Newton's l
When the Apple Falls: The Revolutionary Discovery of Universal Gravitation
Explore the true story behind Isaac Newton's most famous discovery in this episode of the Isaac Newton podcast. Dr Sarah Quinn examines how a simple falling apple led to one of the most revolutionary insights in scientific history – the law of universal gravitation. Discover how Newton's observation in 1665 during the Great Plague transformed our understanding of the cosmos by revealing that the s
The Reluctant Genius: Newton's Early Years and the Making of a Mind
Explore the formative years of Isaac Newton in this compelling episode examining how a premature baby from rural Lincolnshire became history's greatest scientific genius. Dr Sarah Quinn delves into Newton's traumatic early childhood, including his father's death before his birth and abandonment by his mother at age three when she remarried. Discover how these difficult circumstances shaped Newton'
