Isaac Newton Mystery Files Forever by National Geography

Summary

This video explores the mysterious life of Sir Isaac Newton, delving into his secretive nature and the burning of his manuscripts before his death. Newton, famous for his work in physics, also secretly studied alchemy and biblical prophecy. The video reveals his obsessive, reclusive tendencies, speculates about his possible Asperger's syndrome, and discusses the contradictions between his scientific genius and his interests in alchemy and theology. Ultimately, Newton is presented as a complex figure whose genius shaped modern science while remaining enigmatic and secretive.

Takeaways

• 📜 Isaac Newton, one of the most famous men of his time, burned many of his manuscripts just weeks before his death, raising questions about what he was trying to hide.
• 🔬 Newton's contributions to science include the discovery of gravity and the development of calculus, but he kept much of his work secret during his lifetime.
• 📚 Newton was not only interested in science; he was also deeply involved in alchemy, a mysterious and controversial practice at the time.
• 🪞 Newton revolutionized telescope design by creating a reflecting telescope that was smaller and more powerful than traditional refracting telescopes, solving issues with chromatic aberration.
• 🌈 One of Newton's key discoveries was that white light is composed of different colors, leading to a better understanding of light and optics.
• ⚔️ Newton had a fierce rivalry with Robert Hooke, a fellow scientist at the Royal Society, who criticized his theories on light. This led to personal conflicts and Newton's temporary withdrawal from publishing.
• 🧑‍🔬 In addition to his scientific pursuits, Newton was obsessed with religious prophecy and the secret codes he believed were hidden in the Bible, spending years studying these subjects.
• ⚗️ Newton's work in alchemy, which was seen as unscientific by many of his contemporaries, was kept secret and may have influenced his other scientific discoveries.
• 🔒 Newton was highly secretive, especially about his alchemical and religious studies, likely fearing persecution or damage to his reputation.
• 🧠 Some modern experts believe Newton may have had Asperger syndrome, which could explain his intense focus, social difficulties, and the contradictions in his personality and interests.

Q & A

Why did Isaac Newton burn some of his manuscripts before his death?

Newton burned some of his manuscripts before his death to maintain secrecy over his controversial and possibly heretical work, especially in the areas of alchemy and theology. Researchers suspect that the papers contained sensitive ideas, possibly even more extreme than what he left behind.

What were some of the major scientific discoveries Newton made while isolated during the plague?

During his isolation from the plague in 1665, Newton made several groundbreaking discoveries, including the invention of calculus, important findings about the nature of light, and the development of his theory of gravity.

Why did Newton keep his work secret for many years before publishing it?

Newton was known to be very secretive and often worked obsessively without sharing his findings. He kept his work secret for years because he had little interest in sharing it with others, preferring to develop his ideas in isolation. His secretive nature was also likely driven by a distrust of others and a desire for control over his discoveries.

How did Robert Hooke's reaction to Newton's work impact their relationship?

Robert Hooke's harsh criticism of Newton's theory of light in 1672 caused significant tension between the two scientists. Hooke's negative review deeply upset Newton, leading to a bitter exchange of letters. Newton eventually withdrew from public debate and declared that he would no longer publish his work, severely straining their relationship.

What was revolutionary about Newton’s reflecting telescope?

Newton's reflecting telescope was revolutionary because it used mirrors instead of lenses, allowing it to be much smaller and avoid the chromatic aberration problem that plagued traditional refracting telescopes. This improvement made it more efficient and easier to use for observing celestial objects.

What role did alchemy play in Newton’s life and scientific work?

Alchemy was a major, secret obsession for Newton. He devoted much time to experimenting with alchemical processes, believing that they could reveal hidden knowledge about nature. His work in alchemy was not publicly known during his lifetime, as alchemy was considered disreputable by many, but it strongly influenced his thinking, including his ideas about light and matter.

How did Newton’s approach to science differ from the norms of the Scientific Revolution?

Newton’s approach to science was highly secretive and personal, which contrasted with the norms of the Scientific Revolution, where transparency and collaboration were encouraged. While most scientists of the time shared their work openly, Newton preferred to keep his discoveries to himself until he felt ready to reveal them.

What evidence is there to suggest that Newton may have had Asperger's Syndrome?

Some experts, such as Professor Michael Fitzgerald, believe that Newton may have had Asperger's Syndrome due to his poor social relationships, obsessive focus on his work, lack of empathy, and repetitive behavior. His intense ability to hyperfocus on problems and his reclusive lifestyle are consistent with characteristics of Asperger's.

How did Edmund Halley influence Newton’s work on gravity?

Edmund Halley played a pivotal role in reviving Newton's interest in mainstream science by asking him to mathematically prove the relationship between planetary orbits and an inverse square law. This request eventually led Newton to produce his groundbreaking work, the 'Principia Mathematica,' where he formalized the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

Why is Newton’s 'Principia Mathematica' considered one of the greatest scientific works in history?

Newton’s 'Principia Mathematica' is considered one of the greatest scientific works because it laid the foundations for classical mechanics, formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, and revolutionized the way we understand the physical universe. It remains one of the most influential books in the history of science.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 Isaac Newton's Secretive Life and Manuscript Burning

In the final weeks of his life, Isaac Newton, one of the most famous figures of his time, was desperately burning boxfuls of manuscripts. This mysterious act raises questions about what he sought to conceal—secrets of alchemy, the date of Armageddon, or the philosopher’s stone. Newton, known as the father of modern science, had a secretive life, deeply involved in alchemy and biblical codes. His contradictory nature and obsessive focus led to lifelong secrecy, including the destruction of important works before his death.

05:01

📚 Newton’s Early Life and Reluctant Rise to Fame

Newton’s journey begins in 1661 when he leaves home to study at Cambridge University. Here, under the mentorship of Isaac Barrow, Newton quickly shows his capability for independent research. However, his discovery of key scientific principles, including gravity, is kept secret, as Newton is reluctant to share his work with the world. Despite his groundbreaking achievements, Newton is reclusive and uninterested in public recognition, preferring to work in isolation. Only with Barrow’s intervention does Newton’s work start gaining attention among fellow scientists.

10:03

🔭 Newton’s Revolutionary Telescope and First Public Recognition

Newton’s first major public contribution comes with the invention of the reflecting telescope, a revolutionary device smaller and more efficient than the refracting telescopes of the time. This achievement brings Newton into the limelight as the Royal Society takes interest in his work. His discovery of how light works, by using mirrors rather than lenses to avoid chromatic aberration, is another breakthrough. Yet, despite these accomplishments, Newton remains secretive and isolated, only sharing his work sparingly with trusted figures like Barrow.

15:06

⚔️ Conflict with Robert Hooke and Retreat from Public Life

Newton’s burgeoning fame leads to a dramatic conflict with Robert Hooke, a prominent scientist. Hooke criticizes Newton’s theory of light, sparking a fierce rivalry. Newton responds with a lengthy rebuttal, but the heated exchange drives Newton back into isolation. Disillusioned with public critique, Newton withdraws from publishing. During this time, he focuses on his alchemical research, a secretive and controversial practice in which Newton becomes deeply absorbed, further distancing himself from mainstream science.

20:06

💀 Newton’s Obsession with Alchemy and Secret Knowledge

Newton’s interest in alchemy intensifies during his years of isolation. Despite alchemy being seen as fraudulent by many, Newton obsessively studies and experiments with it. He views alchemy as a source of secret knowledge, delving into mystical texts in search of transformation. However, his alchemical pursuits remain hidden from public view due to their dubious reputation. It isn’t until later, through encouragement from Edmond Halley, that Newton returns to mainstream science, eventually leading to the publication of his landmark work, *Principia Mathematica*.

🔮 Newton’s Biblical Studies and Prophetic Obsessions

In addition to alchemy, Newton devotes significant time to studying the Bible, particularly the Book of Revelation. He becomes convinced that he has the ability to decode hidden messages about the end of the world. Newton’s religious studies, which consume more of his time than science, are kept secret due to their radical nature. His obsessive search for theological truth mirrors his scientific inquiries, as he believes himself to be one of the few who understands the true divine plan.

🧠 Newton’s Possible Asperger Syndrome and Genius

Some experts, like Professor Michael Fitzgerald, suggest that Newton may have had Asperger syndrome. His poor social skills, intense focus, and repetitive behaviors fit the profile of someone on the autism spectrum. This condition may have fueled his obsessive work ethic and relentless pursuit of knowledge in both science and mysticism. Fitzgerald even likens Newton’s genius to that of other historical figures who displayed similar traits, including Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin. Newton’s unique brain likely contributed to both his genius and his lifelong secrecy.

Keywords

💡Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton is the central figure of the video, a renowned scientist known for his discoveries in physics and mathematics, including the laws of motion and gravity. The video explores his genius, his secretive nature, and his involvement in a variety of fields, including alchemy and theology, which contrasted with his scientific work.

💡Alchemy

Alchemy refers to an ancient practice aimed at turning base metals into gold and discovering the Philosopher's Stone. Newton was secretly obsessed with alchemy, and the video highlights how he spent years experimenting with metals and chemicals, despite the practice being viewed as unscientific during his time.

💡Royal Society

The Royal Society was a prestigious scientific organization in Newton's time, promoting natural knowledge. Newton eventually became a prominent figure in the society, but his relationship with it was complex, particularly due to his conflict with fellow scientist Robert Hooke. The society played a key role in disseminating Newton's scientific discoveries.

💡Reflecting telescope

Newton invented the reflecting telescope, which used mirrors instead of lenses to avoid chromatic aberration. This was a groundbreaking development, as it allowed for a clearer and more compact design compared to traditional refracting telescopes. His invention brought him recognition from the Royal Society.

💡Robert Hooke

Robert Hooke was a contemporary of Newton and a prominent scientist at the Royal Society. He clashed with Newton over scientific ideas, particularly regarding theories of light and gravity. Hooke's criticisms of Newton's work fueled Newton's reclusiveness and contributed to a bitter rivalry between them.

💡Principia Mathematica

Principia Mathematica is Newton's most famous work, published in 1687. It laid the foundation for classical mechanics, including his laws of motion and universal gravitation. The video emphasizes how this book became one of the most important texts in the history of science, marking Newton as a pivotal figure in modern scientific thought.

💡Light and colors

Newton's work on light and colors was revolutionary. He discovered that white light is composed of various colors, which could be separated by a prism. This finding was initially met with skepticism, especially from Robert Hooke, but it eventually became a fundamental principle in the study of optics.

💡Bible codes and prophecy

In addition to his scientific work, Newton was deeply interested in religious texts, particularly the Bible. He believed there were secret codes within the scriptures that could reveal the date of Armageddon or other hidden truths. This aspect of Newton's life, focused on prophecy and esoteric knowledge, was kept secret due to its controversial nature.

💡Asperger syndrome

The video suggests that Newton may have had Asperger syndrome, a condition characterized by difficulties in social interaction and obsessive focus on specific interests. This theory is used to explain his reclusive behavior, his relentless work ethic, and his ability to hyper-focus on scientific and mystical pursuits.

💡Secrecy

Secrecy is a recurring theme in Newton's life, as highlighted in the video. He often kept his work to himself, whether it was his groundbreaking discoveries in physics or his more obscure pursuits in alchemy and theology. The burning of his manuscripts before his death further emphasizes the lengths he went to in order to keep parts of his knowledge hidden from the world.

Highlights

Isaac Newton burned boxfuls of manuscripts just weeks before his death, sparking speculation about their content.

Newton secretly studied alchemy, biblical codes, and the timing of Armageddon, alongside his groundbreaking scientific work.

Despite his discoveries in physics, Newton was highly secretive and often kept his work to himself for years.

During a plague outbreak in 1665, Newton retreated to his family home, where he made major discoveries in calculus, optics, and gravity.

Newton was intensely focused, often described as obsessive and reclusive, showing little interest in sharing his discoveries with the world.

He invented the reflecting telescope, a breakthrough that solved many problems with refracting telescopes of the time, including chromatic aberration.

Robert Hooke, a prominent scientist of the time, challenged Newton's theories on light, sparking a fierce rivalry between them.

Newton became an alchemist, devoting years to experiments in search of the Philosopher's Stone, which could turn base metals into gold.

Newton’s obsession with alchemy, seen as pseudoscience, was kept secret due to its controversial nature.

Edmond Halley, a fellow scientist, reignited Newton's interest in gravity, leading to the publication of Newton’s *Principia Mathematica* in 1687.

Newton’s *Principia Mathematica* is regarded as one of the most important scientific works, laying the foundation for modern physics.

Newton held radical religious beliefs and was deeply interested in deciphering biblical prophecies, particularly the Book of Revelation.

He believed that he had been chosen to uncover the truths of the universe, whether through science, theology, or alchemy.

Newton’s personal writings suggest he destroyed theological papers before his death, likely to protect his reputation.

Modern experts believe Newton may have had Asperger syndrome, which contributed to his extraordinary focus and genius but also to his social isolation.

Transcripts

in

1727 just weeks before his death one of

the most famous men of his day is busy

burning boxfuls of his

manuscripts what could have been in them

that he was so desperate to

destroy the date of

Armageddon the ingredients of the

Philosopher's Stone maybe even the key

to eternal

life this man was the father of modern

science he uned locked gravity's

Secrets but it seems that falling apples

were not at the top of his priority list

he had spent his life secretly studying

the ancient art of alchemy codes in the

Bible and the timing

of he was capable of being utterly

tunnel visioned and obsessed he's a

massive contradictory figure why was he

so

secretive and what did he have to hide

we find out as we open the mystery files

on Sir Isaac Newton

destroying his manuscripts before he

died is just the last act in Isaac

Newton's lifetime of

secrecy to find out what he could be so

desperate to hide we need to go back to

his early

years it's

1661 and at the age of 18 young Isaac

Newton leaves home to attend Cambridge

University

Rob ith has spent over 25 years studying

Newton's manuscripts at some point in

early

1664 uh he goes to the mathematical

lectures of Isaac Barrow and it's quite

clear that at a very early age he's

capable of completely independent and

original

research in 1665 the plague is RI

spreading out from

London Newton leaves Cambridge and

travels 160 km North to w th and the

protection of his family

home during the two years he spends

there he invents calculus makes huge

discoveries about the nature of light

and the Fateful Apple supposedly Falls

sparking his theory of

gravity on his return to Cambridge

Newton has discovered fundamental laws

that govern the

universe yet he has told no one one of

the interesting things about Newton is

that he does immensely important work

and he's quite capable of shoving papers

underneath his bed and forgetting about

them Newton is very secretive and has no

interest in sharing his work with the

world it would eventually transform

Professor Michael Fitzgerald has studied

Newton extensively he had extremely poor

social relationships he had very low

empathy he was quite suspicious paranoid

a cruel sadistic but then he had this

enormous capacity to hyperfocus enormous

capacity to ask fundamental questions

and the ability to do experiments and to

persist with a question until he came up

with an

answer this unique ability to remain

hyperfocused attracts the attention of

Newton's mathematics professor Isaac

Barrow he begins to promote Newton

amongst his colleagues the way that you

become known in the middle of the 17th

century is not the way that we would uh

become known today it's more a kind of

personal thing that your work is shown

to various luminaries and they

acknowledge that you are a major figure

in the profession and that's what

happens to Newton uh Isaac Barrow starts

sending out one or two pieces of work

that Newton has done and a small group

of people know that this person is a

major serious

mathematician and every mathematician of

the day wants the honor of being a

member of the newly founded Royal

Society Keith Moore is the librarian of

the Royal Society today in 1660 when the

Royal Society was founded it was founded

as a as a college for improving natural

knowledge members in Newton's day

include such eminent scientists as

Robert Bole Christopher Ren and Edmund

Hy they are Keen to hear the ideas of

this young Renegade scientist

that getting the secretive Newton

involved is not a simple task he grows

ever more brilliant and ever more

solitary Newton uh Works uh obsessively

he he is something of a reclusive and he

writes reams of material that no one

else sees uh this is knowledge that he's

developing for

himself Andrew Gregory is an expert in

the history of science I don't think

that anyone would ever really describe

Newton as popular and easygoing at any

point of his life he is quite obsessive

about his work he's very much a

workaholic and doesn't have a great deal

of Interest outside his

work Newton remains locked away in his

Chambers speaking only to the few men he

respects like

Barrow and it is another intervention

from Isaac Barrow that finally propels

Newton out of hiding and into the

Limelight Newton is the first person in

1667 or 1668 to make a working

reflecting telescope and he shows this

to Isaac Barrow and Barrow sends uh

Newton's reflecting telescope to the

Royal

Society Newton's telescope is

revolutionary because it's over 10 times

smaller than the equivalent telescopes

of the

day these were refracting telescopes

that use lenses to magnify objects the

bigger the lenses the better the

magnification but to see pinpoints of

light like planets and stars they had to

be

enormous Newton's telescope uses mirrors

instead of

lenses these reflecting telescopes could

be much smaller for the same

magnification making them a lot easier

to

use but size wasn't the only problem

with the big old telescopes they also

caused small rainbows around the edges

of objects making them difficult to see

clearly this effect is known as

chromatic aberration Newton's telescope

did not suffer from this problem

refracting instruments were very big

unwieldy their color aberration problems

were very difficult to overcome Newton

at a stroke seemed to have solved all

the problems that these scientists had

after they received his groundbreaking

telescope the Royal Society want to see

what else this strange character has has

to offer the secretary of the Royal

Society says to Newton uh this is

extremely interesting have you got

anything else uh and Newton says yes

I've got something that's been hanging

around for a few years by my table it's

not worth very much but I do think it's

the most important thing that's ever

been discovered in science and he sends

this paper to the Royal Society and it

is his famous paper on light and colors

the paper Newton had been keeping secret

held the discovery that led him to use

mirrors in his telescope

instead of lenses Newton discovered that

when you pass light through a lens it

breaks up into its constituent colors if

you pass those colors through a lens

again it doesn't break up any further

Newton then theorized that white light

is made up of these constituent colors

Newton's Discovery revolutionized the

way we think about light and the way we

build

telescopes the old refracting telescopes

had revealed the planets and their moons

but Newton's Scopes brought them clearly

into Focus for the first

time Newton is finally being recognized

for his incredible work and begins to

open up to the outside

world then Along Comes Robert Hulk A

Gifted scientist in his own right hook

is the curator of experiments at the

Royal Society Robert Hook is if you like

the star performer in the Royal Society

and he has no reason to think he's never

that he's going to stop being the star

performer until in

1672 uh the Royal Society receives this

paper from an obscure mathematics

professor in Cambridge and hook

immediately realizes that there's a

problem Robert Hook is a popular figure

in the socialable coffee house culture

the best way to promote your scientific

ideas at the time Coffee House culture

was very big um science in that kind of

context could be debated in public

amongst groups of like-minded

individuals that all gather together in

coffee houses and share their ideas

about the world so it was a public forum

and not necessarily the kind of place

that Isaac Newton would have found very

comfortable I think Robert Hook reads

Newton's theory of light and finds that

it conflicts with his own understanding

of how light works he writes a scathing

review of Newton's paper which is

discussed amongst the members of the

Royal Society

the secretary of the society decides to

send word back to Newton who grows

Furious hook really upsets Newton uh

quite early on in their relationship by

the nature of his response it's it's

pretty negative and there isn't very

much positive the kind of thing that

Newton likes to hear I that he's a great

man and has transformed physics Newton

has taken a big chance allowing others

to see his work now it's backfired and

Hulk is about to feel the wroth of Isaac

Newton

he sends a 20page letter back to the

Royal Society outlining exactly why Hook

is wrong and he is

right insults fly back and forth until

Newton finally

snaps he Retreats back into his own

world and announces that he will not

publish

again but his scientific work isn't all

that he's been keeping under WRA

for years he's been dabbling in rather

more mysterious work with the dragon the

venomous worm and the blood of the green

lion thanks to his regained isolation he

can now focus on this illegal practice

and that's exactly what he does he

becomes an

alchemist Alchemy is the ancient

practice of searching for fable

Treasures such as the philosopher stone

which could turn base Metals into gold

by Newton's time it is seen as a Fool's

game yet he grows obsessed often

forgetting to sleep or eat whilst metals

burn in his

Crucible Alchemy for Newton held the

potential for secret knowledge he he

read alchemical Works uh he experimented

in alchemy himself and this is very

different from uh the tenants of the

Scientific Revolution where you would be

open about your

science over a decade later Newton's

secret work in alchemy is put on hold

when the famous scientist Edmund Hy

reignites Newton's interest in

mainstream

science hary had been in the coffee

shops talking about a theory on gravity

and the orbit of planets Robert Hook

claimed he had already proved this

Theory but after months of waiting to

see it hi was still empty landed so he

turned to Newton instead Edmund H comes

to visit him and asks him if he can

prove that there's a relationship

between the known elliptical orbits of

planets and an inverse Square law and

Newton says he

can uh and he says he has a proof so uh

according to one story he rustles around

his papers for a bit and comes back and

says I'm sorry I can't find it but 3

months later hie at the Royal Society

receives this extraordinary text uh

which is only about 11 pages long but in

that 2 or 3 month period Newton had

drawn up the the basics if you like of

of modern physics in 10 or 11

pages H encourages Newton to release

these Pages officially to turn them into

a book to show the world what he has

done his flattery results in Newton

publishing this theory of gravitation as

well as as other laws describing how the

world Works in his greatest scientific

manuscript prinkipia Mathematica in

1687

Pria is just a book but what a book it

is one of the great books it's one of

the finest scientific Works ever

published and it's one of the most

culturally important books ever to HIIT

a printing press ultimately I think

people rightly look back to Newton's

prinkipia Mathematica as the found of

modern

science but Newton's arch rival Robert

Hook is still claiming that he had

proved Hal's theory of gravity

first hook had had the idea however he

couldn't uh use mathematics to properly

explain what was going on in planetary

motion so Newton had taken this idea and

applied a rigorous mathematical

treatment to it Newton dismisses Hook's

contribution Newton becomes completely

irate and he had given hook some credit

in the drafts of the prinkipia but

because of Hook's arrogance and Hook's

huis uh Newton decides to go through uh

the prii and he scrubs out all the

references to hook except

two but in 1703 Robert Hook

dies Newton's Life Changes

overnight he releases this is another of

his Major Works a followup to his first

paper on Optics 30 years after carrying

out the original research after the

death of Robert Hook Newton dominates

proceedings at the Royal Society for the

next several years until his death in

1727 but some experts think that there's

more than just Robert Hook to Newton's

secrecy Professor William Newman is a

leading expert on Newton's alchemical

work in 2010 Newman made a discovery

that convinced him Newton's theories on

light were inspired by his work in

alchemy because Newton thought of light

as being composed of material globules

as he calls them it was a Perfectly

Natural and obvious thing for him to

think of analyzing light in the same way

that one would do with

chemicals if Newton is going to keep his

reputation secrecy is essential

his Alchemy is something that most

people would have thought was fraudulent

they would have wondered why it was that

he worked so hard on something that most

people thought uh was the work of

forgers and idiots for Newton to be

dabbling in these things well he was

still a very eminent figure I think it

probably would still have been regarded

as

odd the fact that one of the world's

most famous scientists is an avid

Alchemist seems to be a huge

contradiction but the contradictions

don't end there Isaac Newton has an even

more surprising interest he is obsessed

with secret codes and Prophecy in the

Bible and it could cost him his job or

even his life in the last 20 or 30 years

we have a picture of Newton who is very

interested in religious ideas he decides

that he's going to do for theology what

he's done for mathematics and physics

and he he gradually as a radical

Protestant he gradually moves from if

you like normal radical protestantism

into something that's very very abnormal

he must be spending five or six hours

every day doing religious study he

writes more words on the scriptures than

he does on science and Alchemy combined

Newton's work on biblical studies is

looking

at religious texts and and disecting

them he has a very analytical mind so he

likes to to scrutinize early children

Church records and the Bible Newton is

particularly obsessed by The Book of

Revelation and believes that it contains

secret information about the end of the

world for Newton there is a remnant of

people including himself who know the

truth and they're always persecuted so

sometimes they're martyred sometimes

they're exiled and sometimes they have

to keep their work private like Newton

but at the end of the day when it's

Judgment Day these people will inherit

the earth in the seemingly un related

fields of science Alchemy and theology

Newton applies the same obsessive search

for truth to each with the exception of

one or two people uh nobody knows while

Newton is alive what he thinks what he

believes Newton is convinced that he

alone has been given a gift to unravel

the mysteries of the universe whether

through science religion or Alchemy and

maintains an unrivaled cloak of secrecy

over all three

but there must have been something that

Newton was especially desperate to keep

secret taking it with him to the

Grave we know that he destroyed hundreds

of papers just weeks before his

death there are two sources for saying

that Newton burned stuff before he died

uh one of them affirmed that he had seen

Newton burn uh large amounts of material

before he died that was almost certainly

theological but we we don't know why he

would have done this because the stuff

that he's left is so heretical anyway we

we we can't imagine what there was that

was worse that he would have wanted to

burn I think that uh he burned some

alchemical

papers because the vast amounts of

alchemical papers that we have are notes

from other people's

writings but there must be uh hundreds

of thousands of words of Newton's own

musings that that are lost to us the

papers Newton Burns before he dies could

just be copies of existing material that

he wanted to be rid

of but given his interests in alchemy

and theology some researchers now

suspect something more

bizarre today this defined act might

seem

extreme but Professor Michael Fitzgerald

believes that it is driven by Newton's

condition I'm 100% sure that Isaac

Newton had uh had Asperger syndrome the

key to the condition is poor social

relationships uh poor empathy they have

a piercing gaze problems reading faces

reading body language and they're rather

repetitive in their behavior he often

wrote out works again and again and

again and these aren't just uh pages of

works but often tens of thousands of

words he would write out again from

scratch Fitzgerald describes other

characteristics he sees in Geniuses with

Asbergers they have very narrow

interests they're completely obsessed

with with something and they stay with

it uh you know until they win a Nobel

Prize I think there is a lot of

independent evidence that Newton did

push himself to the Limit continuously

and that he did indeed engage in this

kind of distracted behavior and he was

capable of being utterly tunnel visioned

and obsessed with whatever it was he was

doing Fitzgerald also believes that

Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin

showed signs of Asperger

syndrome if Newton has Aspergers his

brain works differently than in an

average

person the way I would describe it would

be like having maybe 12 computers in the

brain operating independently almost of

each other they're not linked up and

they're not integrated as they are in an

neurotypical or what we call an average

person now this intense local processing

can function far superior to an

integrated

brain Not only would Asperger's Syndrome

help explain Newton's genius but it

would also join together his seemingly

desperate interests of theology Alchemy

and physics different areas of his brain

working independently but each with

intense local power he's a massive

contradictory figure and that is very

common in Geniuses that they they have

their scientific side and they have

their irrational side into the occult or

spiritual matters or so on and this is

completely bizarre but it is very common

in people with Asperger syndrome to have

this this

split Fitzgerald thinks that Newton's

life would have been very different

without

Asbergers if Newton hadn't had aspa

syndrome I don't think he would have

been Newton we wouldn't be talking about

him to today he would be just another

farmer when Newton dies he is one of the

world's most famous men Newton is now a

more messy figure he's more man of his

period and understanding how Newton

viewed the world and how his science

emerged from that is I think a more

interesting way of looking at him the

picture of Newton today is a much more

complex one than in the past

nevertheless his status as a scientist

hasn't changed in one iota he's just the

greatest scientist for the past Thousand

Years whether Newton had asger syndrome

or not a more truthful and interesting

picture is emerging of a man whose

genius came at the price of social Grace

but who is ultimately celebrated as one

of history's most influential characters