"People of genius"

Man's intellectual abilities have given him tools, technologies, scientific achievements, and works of art.

A society was formed that built modern civilization as a building that one can be proud of; brilliant people played a special role in this construction, without whom the world would look different.

UNDISPUTED GENIUS

The Shakespearean Canon includes 39 plays bearing the signature of the great playwright. Despite some doubts among scientists about their authenticity, the whole world recognizes Shakespeare as the author of these masterpieces. His works tell about the eternal: life and death, love and hatred, revenge and forgiveness, good and evil. Centuries before Freud and Jung, Shakespeare was an excellent student of human psychology, using his knowledge and talent to write comedies, tragedies and dramas, accurately expressing human feelings and experiences through poetry. William Shakespeare is considered to have the greatest poetic gift, having a huge influence on the minds of mankind.

It is impossible to ignore Aristotle’s contribution to the treasury of the intellectual capital of mankind. A follower of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great showed the right path to his capable student. Aristotle's genius as a versatile scientist and philosopher is beyond doubt. He did much more than dozens of generations of philosophers before and after him, bringing together the truth scattered throughout the world. Aristotle identified many laws of the universe that science still uses today.

He created formal logic and syllogistics. The “first philosophy” - metaphysics - contains the doctrine of the basic principles of being: possibility and implementation, form and matter, efficient cause and purpose. The philosopher wavered between materialism and idealism, seeing harmony in the world. He defined the source of movement and changeable existence - the eternal and motionless mind, nous (prime mover). He identified the stages of nature: inorganic world, plant, animal, human. He noted the main principle of ethics - reasonable behavior, moderation. He said that man is a social being, identified the best forms of state for humanity - monarchy, moderate democracy, aristocracy, as well as the worst - tyranny, oligarchy, ochlocracy. The influence of Aristotle's works spread not only to the entire Christian world, but, thanks to the works of Ibn Rushd, to Islam.

The ancient Greek mathematician Euclid made a huge contribution to the construction of civilization. 300 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, Euclid published his general work - “Principia” (includes 15 books), containing the foundations of ancient mathematics, elementary geometry, number theory, the general theory of relations and the method of determining areas and volumes, the theory of limits.

“Principia” remained the main textbook of geometry for all scientists of the world until the 19th century. For more than two thousand years, the greatest minds on the planet, including Albert Einstein, have drawn inspiration from the writings of Euclid, allowing progress to proceed with the greatest efficiency for all humanity.

PHYSICISTS AND LYRICS

Two different scientists worked independently on the development of differential and integral calculations of infinitesimal quantities.

Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was known as a secretive, stubborn and uncommunicative person. But his colleague, the German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716), was a dandy who had acquaintances in the widest circles of society. He was considered the face of intellectual bohemia throughout Europe and was the founder and president of the Brandenburg Scientific Society. The discord between the two great scientists began with a dispute about who became the first creator of differential and integral calculus.

Leibniz used integral calculus as early as 1675, but published the results of his work only in 1684. Newton developed both differential and integral methods of calculus in 1666, used them in his main work, “The Law of Universal Gravitation,” but also did not publish it until 1693.

At first, both scientists did not even raise the issue of primacy in this field, but then they quarreled violently, becoming enemies. Let historians sort out this dispute, but advanced engineering solutions and the development of physics without the discovery of two scientists are simply unthinkable.

By the way, Isaac Newton discovered the “Law of Universal Gravitation” not thanks to the fall of an apple, but solely through his knowledge of the laws of ballistic trajectories, the orbits of the Moon and other planets and stars. Newton's works became the basis for the development of mathematical principles of natural philosophy, which made it possible to make a giant leap in physics.

Although Albert Einstein did not like quantum mechanics, its role in the development of modern sciences cannot be underestimated. Quantum (or wave) mechanics is a theory that establishes the method of description and laws of motion of microparticles in given external fields - one of the main sections of quantum theory. Quantum mechanics made it possible for the first time to describe the structure of atoms and understand their spectra, to establish the nature chemical bond, explain periodic table elements. Dozens of scientists contributed to the treasury of this science: Rutherford, Bohr, Planck, Schrödinger, Pauli, Heisenberg, Dirac, Feynman, Gell-Mann and others. The development of quantum mechanics took several decades, but it will serve humans for millennia.

Perhaps the most controversial and controversial scientific work is Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Opponents are ready to fight to the point of blood, defending their point of view. But let's clarify the first thing: Darwin never claimed that man descended from apes, he only assumed that they had a common ancestor. And second: Darwin only pointed to the possible evolution of man in the past. Towards the end of his life, the scientist expressed doubt about the biblical version of the creation of the world (Universe). And when his 10-year-old daughter died in 1851, he stopped attending church.

The most powerful and strong foundation stone modern science contributed, there is no doubt, by Albert Einstein. Like Newton, he considered himself to be an outside observer, a contemplator. He repeatedly stated that humanity made him feel sad and deeply disappointed, considering the secrets of nature more important and interesting. His genius brought science to a higher level of development.

His theory of relativity brought him worldwide recognition and popularity, but not the Nobel Prize, which he received for other work - on theoretical physics and for the discovery of the laws of the photoelectric effect. When asked “where is your laboratory,” he responded by showing his fountain pen and saying, “Here.”

For opening new horizons in the world of music, the musicians themselves put the name of the unsurpassed Richard Wagner (1813-1883) first on the list of geniuses. His talent at one time had a seismic effect on the public. The newspapers were full of headlines: “reformer of opera,” “revolutionary in the field of harmony and orchestration.” Most of his musical dramas are based on mystical and legendary plots. Until now, his tetralogy “The Ring of the Nibelungs” - “Das Rheingold”, “Walkyrie”, “Siegfried”, “Twilight of the Gods” - has not left the stage of the best opera houses.

Whether we like it or not, it is the composer Richard Wagner who is recognized by experts as the most influential and revolutionary creator of music in our entire history.

The most smart people in history. Their works have shaped our vision of the world. The results of their intellectual work are impressive and motivate them to engage in science.

• Lao Tzu. China (6th century BC)

“He who knows does not speak, he who speaks does not know.”
Semi-legendary Chinese thinker, founder of Taoism.
Lao Tzu translates to "old child". According to legend, his mother carried Lao Tzu in her womb for 81 years, and he was born from her thigh.
La Tzu is considered the author of the key treatise of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching. “Tao” is the path, one of the main categories of Chinese philosophy. “Tao” is wordless, nameless, formless and motionless. No one, not even Lao Tzu, can define “Tao.” In China, the cult of Lao Tzu was formed, who began to be revered as one of the “three pure ones” - the highest deities of the Taoist pantheon.

• Pythagoras. Ancient Greece(570-490 BC)

"Numbers rule the world."
Philosopher, mathematician and mystic, creator of the Pythagorean school. According to legend, he had a golden thigh. Herodotus called him "the greatest Hellenic sage." Pythagoras lived in Egypt for 22 years and in Babylon for 12 years. He was admitted there to participate in the sacraments.
According to Pythagoras, the basis of things is number; to know the world means to know the numbers that control it. The mathematician probably brought the famous Pythagorean theorem about the square of the hypotenuse from the Babylonians, where it was known 1000 years before him.

• Heraclitus. Ancient Greece (544-483 BC)

"Nature loves to hide."
Founder of dialectics. The only work that has survived in fragments is “On Nature”. Heraclitus is credited with authorship catchphrase“Everything flows, everything changes.”
The philosopher considered fire to be the origin of all things. Everything came from it and is constantly in a state of change. He led a solitary life. Diogenes Laertius wrote that Heraclitus, “hating people, withdrew and began to live in the mountains, feeding on pasture and herbs.”

• Confucius. China (551 BC - 479 BC)

“If you hate, it means you have been defeated.”
An ancient Chinese philosopher, whose ideas became the basis for the development of Confucianism - a philosophical system, worldview, social ethics, and scientific tradition of China.
The philosophy of Confucius became popular outside the Middle Kingdom, even in Western Europe. In particular, Nicolas Malebranche and Gottfried Leibniz wrote about Confucianism. A particularly revered book of this teaching is Lun Yu (Conversations and Judgments), compiled by Confucius's students based on the teacher's statements.

• Parmenides. Ancient Greece (515 BC - c. 470 BC)

“Thinking and being are one and the same thing.”
One of the founders of metaphysics and the founder of the Eleatic school, mentor of Zeno.
Socrates, in Plato's dialogue Theaetetus, said of Parmenides that he was “a thinker of truly extraordinary depth.” Hegel wrote that with Parmenides “philosophy in the proper sense of the word began.” Parmenides believed that the basis of everything lies in Being, apart from which there is nothing. There is no non-existence, and it is even impossible to think and talk about it, since everything that can be thought about already exists, but one cannot think about what does not exist. Being is one and has the shape of a ball.

• Democritus Ancient Greece (c. 460 BC - c. 370 BC)

“To live badly, unreasonably, intemperately does not mean to live badly, but to die slowly.”
Democritus was called the "laughing philosopher." He squandered his inheritance on traveling around the world, for which he was even brought to trial. However, he was acquitted when he read an excerpt from his work “The Great World-Building”. Democritus loved to go away from people to cemeteries and think there. They even sent Hippocrates to check his sanity. He not only recognized Democritus as sane, but also called him one of the smartest people.
Seneca called Democritus “the most subtle of all thinkers.”

• Plato. Ancient Greece (428 or 427 BC - 348 or 347 BC)

“Man is a wingless creature, bipedal, with flat nails, susceptible to knowledge based on reasoning.”
Plato - from the word plato “breadth”. This is what Plato was called by his teacher Socrates. The real name of the philosopher is Aristocles. He was in Persia, Assyria, Phenicia, Babylon, Egypt, and possibly in India. In Athens, Plato founded a philosophical school - the Academy, which existed for almost a thousand years. Twice won the pankration competition.
Plato is considered the founder of idealistic philosophy; he developed the doctrine of the soul, political and legal doctrine, and dialectics. He believed in immortality and the transmigration of souls. Plato's most popular works are still his dialogues. In almost all of them, the main character is Socrates.

• Aristotle. Ancient Greece (384 BC. Stagira, Thrace—322 BC)

“For two years a person learns to speak, and then for the rest of his life he learns to remain silent.”
Disciple of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great, founder of the Peripatetic school of philosophy, anatomist. Aristotle's works covered virtually all branches of knowledge.
According to Greek biographers, Aristotle suffered from speech impediments, was “short-legged, had small eyes, wore smart clothes and a trimmed beard.”
Plato and Aristotle, in fact, laid the foundations of all world philosophy. All formal logic is still based on the teachings of Aristotle.

• Ptolemy. Alexandria (ca. 100 - ca. 170)

“Resist your whims in youth, for in old age you will not be able to correct yourself in order to wean yourself from them.”
Late Hellenistic astronomer, astrologer, mathematician, mechanic, optician, music theorist and geographer. He had no equal in astronomy for 1000 years. His classic monograph “Almagest” contains almost all the knowledge about the astronomical science of his time. Ptolemy is the author of the eight-volume work “Guide to Geography”, treatises on mechanics, music, optics and astrology, and invented the astrolabe and quadrant.

• Plotinus. Roman Empire (204/205 - 270)

“Throw it all away.”
Not to be confused with Plato. Idealist philosopher, founder of Neoplatonism. He brought Plato's teaching about the ideal to its logical conclusion. The main thing in Neoplatonism is the doctrine of the otherworldliness and super-intelligibility of the principles of the universe. According to Plotinus, the beginning and basis of the universe is a certain One - infinite and immaterial. The main life task of a person is “reunion with the One,” which he can accomplish thanks to the presence of his own soul. Plotinus had a significant influence on medieval philosophy, and especially on Renaissance thinkers.

• Prokl. Ancient Greece (412 - 485)

“Every God is the measure of existence.”
Neoplatonist philosopher, head of the Platonic Academy. Under Proclus, Neoplatonism reached its final flowering. Alexey Losev put Proclus even higher than the founder of the school of Neoplatonists, Plotinus, and called him a “genius of reason”; with rationality brought “to music, to pathos, to ecstasy.” The works of Proclus, which touched on all aspects of Greek philosophy and science, are characterized by analyticity and systematicity.

• Al Biruni (973-1048)

“If people knew how many favorable opportunities are scattered around and how many wonderful gifts are hidden within themselves, they would forever abandon despondency and laziness.”
Al Biruni was one of the most encyclopedically educated scientists. He mastered almost all the sciences of his time. The list of works compiled by his students alone is 60 pages long in small print.
Al Biruni is the author of numerous major works on history, geography, philology, astronomy, mathematics, mechanics, geodesy, mineralogy, pharmacology, geology and other sciences. In addition to his native Khorezmian language, Biruni spoke Arabic, Persian, Greek, Latin, Turkic, Syriac, as well as Hebrew, Sanskrit and Hindi.

• Ibn Sina. Samanid State, Abbasid Caliphate (980-1037)

“The less often a hand raises the table cup of wine, the stronger it is in battle and the braver and more skillful it is in business.”
Avicenna is the most famous and influential philosopher of the medieval Muslim world, a Persian scientist and doctor, a representative of Eastern Aristotelianism. In total, he wrote more than 450 works in 29 fields of science, of which only 274 have reached us.
Avicenna mainly became famous in the field of medicine, writing many treatises on this topic, but also made contributions to other sciences. Thus, he discovered the process of distillation of essential oils, wrote works on astronomy, music theory, mechanics, psychology and philosophy. He also became famous as a poet. He also wrote some scientific works in the form of poems.

• Maimonides (1138-1204)

“Learn to say, ‘I don’t know,’ and that will be progress.”
An outstanding Jewish philosopher and theologian - Talmudist, rabbi, doctor and versatile scientist of his era, codifier of the laws of the Torah. Maimonides is recognized as the spiritual leader of religious Jewry both of his generation and of subsequent centuries. He left serious contributions to astronomy, mathematics, physics, and medicine. Maimonides' meaning is best expressed by the popular phrase: "from Moses to Moses there was no such Moses."

• William of Occam. England (1285-1357)

“We must not multiply existing things unnecessarily.”
An English philosopher and Franciscan monk, Ockham is considered one of the fathers of modern epistemology and modern philosophy in general, as well as one of the greatest logicians of all time. Ockham's philosophy, especially his discussions about universals, seriously influenced the development of philosophical thought, and the methodological principle, the so-called “Occam's razor,” became one of the most popular philosophical maxims.

• Nikolai Kuzansky. Holy Roman Empire (1401-1464)

“Every person who wants to rise to the knowledge of something must necessarily believe in that without which he cannot rise.”
Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, the greatest German thinker of the 15th century, philosopher, theologian, encyclopedist, mathematician, church and political figure. As a philosopher he stood on the position of Neoplatonism.
The basis of philosophy was the idea of ​​the unity of opposites in the One, where all contradictions are leveled. He stood up for religious tolerance, which at that time was not the most popular position, and even recognized Islam as having some truthfulness and right to exist. Cusansky invented a diverging lens for glasses, wrote treatises on astronomy, mathematics, philosophy and theology.

• Marsilio Ficino. Italy (1433-1499)

“Every thing in nature is either a cause directed towards us or an effect coming from us.”
Philosopher, humanist, astrologer, founder and head of the Florentine Platonic Academy. One of the leading thinkers of the early Renaissance, the most significant representative of Florentine Platonism.
Ficino translated all of Plato's works into Latin. Ficino's main work is the treatise “Plato's Theology on the Immortality of the Soul.” He also studied astrology (the treatise “On Life”), which is why he had problems with the clergy. Ficino's works contributed to the revival of Platonism and the fight against scholastic Aristotelianism.

• Leonardo da Vinci. Florentine Republic (1452-1519)

“When I thought I was learning to live, I was learning to die.”
"Universal man" of the Western Renaissance, genius. Despite the fact that da Vinci gained his greatest fame as an artist, he considered painting more of a hobby, just like music and the art of table setting. Da Vinci considered engineering to be his main vocation. In it, he truly achieved great heights, anticipating the development of technology for centuries to come.
Today in popular culture Leonardo is recognized as the inventor of almost everything that exists. Seriously studying anatomy, da Vinci made thousands of drawings on the structure of the body, ahead of his time by 300 years. In many ways, Leonardo's Anatomy was superior to the famous Gray's Anatomy.

• Paracelsus. Swiss Confederation (1493-1541)

“Everything is poison, and nothing is without poison; Just one dose makes the poison invisible.”
Famous alchemist, astrologer and physician of Swiss-German origin, one of the founders of iatrochemistry, medical alchemy. Gave the name to the metal zinc.
Paracelsus considered man to be a microcosm in which all the elements of the macrocosm are reflected. In one of his books, “Oracles,” containing 300 pages and many prophecies for the whole world until the end of the 3rd millennium, he made several sensational predictions.

• Nicolaus Copernicus. Poland (1473 -1543)

“I prefer to be content with what I can vouch for.”
Polish and Prussian astronomer, mathematician, economist, canon. Started the first scientific revolution, having developed a hypothesis heliocentric system peace. In addition, Copernicus was one of the first to express the idea of ​​universal gravitation.
The main work of Copernicus is “On Rotation” celestial spheres" Copernicus combined his studies in mathematics and astronomy with work in the field economic theory and medical practice, which he engaged in on a voluntary basis.

• Isaac Luria. Ottoman Empire (1534-1572)

“...And the light shrank and went away,
Leaving free, unfilled space.
And the compression of light around the central point was uniform,
So that the empty space took on the shape of a circle,
Since this was the reduction of light...
And so, a straight ray stretched from the endless light,
I went down from top to bottom, into the empty space.
Stretched out, descending along the beam, the endless light down,
And in empty space that volume created all the completely worlds..."
Jewish theologian, rabbi, creator of the so-called Lurianic Kabbalah. In Hebrew, Luria is usually abbreviated as Ari ("blessed is his memory").
Lurianic Kabbalah, created by the Ari, is the basis of both Sephardic Kabbalah from the 16th century and Hasidic Kabbalah, which emerged in the 18th century. Almost all modern Kabbalistic schools study Lurianic Kabbalah. In addition to studying Kabbalah, Luria also studied poetry and science. Some believe that in the above poem Luria described the process of the emergence of the Universe from the Big Bang.

• Giordano Bruno. Neopolitan Kingdom (1548-1600)

“The fear of death is worse than death itself.”
Italian Dominican monk, pantheist, poet and philosopher. Bruno tried to interpret the ideas of Copernicus, while taking the position of Neoplatonism in the spirit of Renaissance naturalism. Bruno expressed scientific theories that were ahead of their time. About the fact that there are many stars similar to the Sun in the Universe, about planets unknown in his time solar system.
Giordano Bruno had an excellent memory and developed mnemonics, memorizing thousands of books, ranging from the Holy Scriptures to Arabic alchemical treatises. He taught the art of mnemonics to Henry III and Elizabeth I.

• John Dee. England (1527-1609)

“By the will of God, I am the Circle, in whose hands are the twelve Kingdoms. Six Thrones of the Breath of Life. The rest are sharp sickles or horns of Death.”
Mathematician, geographer, astronomer, alchemist, hermeticist and astrologer. John Dee was one of the most educated people of his time, he had the largest library in England. In 1561, he supplemented and expanded Robert Record's famous book on mathematics, The Fundamentals of the Arts.
In 1564 he confirmed his status as a "great magician" by publishing his most famous and ambitious book on the Kabbalah and geometric magic, entitled Monas hieroglyphica. Based on the diaries of John Dee, Gustav Meyrink wrote the novel “The Angel of the Western Window.” Some authors credit John Dee with the authorship of the hoax known as the Voynich manuscript.

• Francis Bacon. England (1561-1626)

"Knowledge is power."
Bacon is one of the most prominent universal scientists. Philosopher, politician, historian, founder of English materialism and empiricism. Bacon was the first thinker whose philosophy was based on experimental knowledge. He compiled a code of English laws; he worked on the history of the country during the Tudor dynasty, on the third edition of “Experiments and Instructions.”
In his utopian novel “New Atlantis,” Bacon anticipated many discoveries of the future, for example, the creation of submarines, improvement of animal breeds, transmission of light and sound over a distance.

• Johannes Kepler. Holy Roman Empire (1571-1630)

“I prefer the harsh criticism of one intelligent person to the thoughtless approval of the masses.”
German mathematician, astronomer, mechanic, optician, discoverer of the laws of motion of the planets of the solar system. Albert Einstein called Kepler "an incomparable man." Indeed, Kepler, almost alone, without any support or understanding, made a lot of discoveries both in astronomy and in mathematics, physics, mechanics and optics, and seriously studied astrology, believing, however, that it was “the stupid daughter of astronomy.”

• Mikhail Sendivogiy. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1566-1646)

“If you ask who I am: I am a Cosmopolitan, a citizen of the world. If you know me and want to remain kind and noble people, keep my name a secret.”
The greatest Polish alchemist of the “Roesnkreuzer era”, who owned the secret of transmutation, the author of many alchemical works. In addition to alchemy, he also practiced medicine and even treated King Sigismund III, for whom he was also a diplomatic adviser. He was a court alchemist for Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III. In the book “New Chemical Light...” Sendivogius first described oxygen.
Sendivogius's fame also gave rise to folk legends - to this day, in his hometown, his ghost is said to appear in the market square on every New Year's Eve.

• Rene Descartes. France (1569-1650)

“I think, therefore I am.”
Descartes is a philosopher, mathematician, mechanic, physicist and physiologist, creator of analytical geometry and modern algebraic symbolism, author of the method of radical doubt in philosophy, mechanism in physics, forerunner of reflexology and the theory of affect. The great Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov erected a monument-bust to Descartes near his laboratory, considering him his predecessor.

• Pierre Fermat. France (1601-1665)

“Nature always takes the shortest routes.”
One of the creators of analytical geometry, mathematical analysis, probability theory and number theory. Pierre Fermat was a lawyer by profession and was a councilor to the parliament in Toulouse. The oldest and most prestigious lyceum in this city is named after the scientist.
Fermat was brilliantly educated and knew many languages. Including the ancient ones, on which he even wrote poetry. He is best known for his formulation of Fermat's Last Theorem. It was finally proven only in 1995 by Andrew Wales. The text of the proof contains 129 pages.

• Gottfried Leibniz. Holy Roman Empire (1646-1716)

“The present time is fraught with the future.”
Creator of combinatorics and founder mathematical logic, philosopher, logician, mathematician, mechanic, physicist, lawyer, historian, diplomat, inventor and linguist. Leibniz founded the Berlin Academy of Science and was its first president. Independently of Newton, he created mathematical analysis, described the binary number system, formulated the law of conservation of energy and introduced the concept of “living force” (kinetic energy) into mechanics.
Leibniz also invented the adding machine, introduced the concept of “small perceptions” into psychology, and developed the doctrine of unconscious mental life. He also inspired Peter the Great to develop the concept Russian Academy Sci. The Russian Tsar even awarded Leibniz a prize of 2,000 guilders.

• Isaac Newton. England (1642-1727)

“Genius is the patience of thought concentrated in a certain direction.”
Isaac Newton is one of the greatest scientists in history. Physicist, mathematician, mechanic and astronomer, one of the founders of classical physics. The main work is “Mathematical principles of natural philosophy.” In it, he outlined the law of universal gravitation and the three laws of mechanics, which became the basis of classical mechanics. He developed differential and integral calculus, color theory, laid the foundations of modern physical optics, and created many other mathematical and physical theories.
Newton was a member of the House of Lords and regularly attended its meetings for many years, but remained silent. One day he finally asked to speak. Everyone expected to hear a grandiose speech, but Newton proclaimed in deathly silence: “Gentlemen, I ask you to close the window, otherwise I might catch a cold!”

• Mikhail Lomonosov. Russia (1711-1765)

“If you do something good with difficulty, the labor will pass, but the good will remain, and if you do something bad with pleasure, the pleasure will pass, but the bad will remain.”
The first Russian natural scientist of world significance, encyclopedist, chemist, physicist, astronomer, instrument maker, geographer, metallurgist, geologist, poet, artist, historian. Lomonosov's contribution to various sciences cannot be overestimated. He discovered the presence of an atmosphere on Venus, laid the foundations of the science of glass, developed the molecular-kinetic theory of heat, corpuscular theory, studied electricity, and determined the course of development of the Russian language.

• Immanuel Kant. Prussia (1724-1804)

“A wise man can change his mind; fool - never."
The founder of German classical philosophy, one of the greatest thinkers of the 18th century, who had a huge influence on the development of philosophy.
Even among punctual Germans, Kant's penchant for discipline and a strict daily routine became the talk of the town. They were synchronizing their watches with Kant walking around Königsberg.
In addition to philosophy, Kant was also involved in the natural sciences. He developed a cosmogonic hypothesis of the origin of the Solar system from a giant primordial gas nebula, outlined the idea of ​​a genealogical classification of the animal world, put forward the idea natural origin human races, studied the role of ebbs and flows.

• Johann Goethe. Holy Roman Empire (1749-1832)

“All fathers want their children to achieve what they themselves failed to achieve.”
Goethe today is known mainly as a brilliant writer and poet, but he was also a prominent scientist. He stood at the origins of physiognomy, seriously studied chromatics (the science of paints and colors), chemistry, botany and biology. Goethe wrote many works on philosophy, geology, astronomy, literature and art. 14 of 133 volumes full meeting Goethe's works are devoted to scientific topics.

• James Maxwell. Scotland (1831-1879)

“...For the development of science, it is required in any given era not only that people think in general, but that they concentrate their thoughts on that part of the vast field of science that at a given time requires development.”
Maxwell is a theoretical physicist and mathematician who laid the foundations of electrodynamics and created the theory of electromagnetic waves and photoelasticity. He invented the method of color photographic printing and was one of the founders of molecular physics. In addition to physics and mathematics, he also made great contributions to astronomy and chemistry.

• Dmitry Mendeleev. Russia (1834-1907)

“Burning oil is like heating a stove with banknotes.”
Russian Da Vinci, genius father periodic table elements, Mendeleev was a versatile scientist and public figure. Thus, he made a significant and invaluable contribution to oil activity. Thanks to Mendeleev, Russia was able not only to abandon the export of kerosene from America, but also to export petroleum products to Europe. Mendeleev was nominated for the Nobel Prize three times, but he never received it.

• Nikola Tesla. Austrian Empire (1856-1943)

“Are you familiar with the expression “You can’t jump above your head”? This is a misconception. A person can do anything."
Tesla has been called “the man who invented the 20th century.” Already his early works paved the way for modern electrical engineering; his discoveries were of innovative significance. In the United States, Tesla's fame rivaled that of any inventor or scientist in history or popular culture. Tesla's genius was of a special nature. The inventor always wanted good, but created devices that could destroy humanity. Thus, while studying the resonant vibrations of the Earth, the inventor created a device that actually provokes earthquakes.

• Albert Einstein. Germany (1879-1955)

“What a sad era when it is easier to break an atom than to abandon prejudices.”
Einstein is one of the most famous and popular scientists in the public consciousness, a theoretical physicist, one of the founders of modern theoretical physics, winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Einstein - author of more than 300 scientific works in physics, as well as about 150 books and articles in the field of history and philosophy of science, the author of the general and special theories of relativity, laid the foundations of quantum theory and stood at the origins of a new theory of gravity to replace Newton's.

• Carl Gustav Jung. Switzerland (1875-1961)

“Everything that does not suit us in others allows us to understand ourselves.”
Jung is a student of Sigmund Freud, who in many ways surpassed his teacher, the founder of analytical psychology. It was Jung who introduced the concepts of introversion and extraversion into psychology to determine the type of personality orientation, developed the associative method of psychotherapy, the doctrine of the collective unconscious, the theory of archetypes, and made a big breakthrough in the theory of dream interpretation.

• Niels Bohr, Denmark (1885-1962)

“If quantum physics doesn’t scare you, then you don’t understand anything about it.”
A Nobel Prize winner in physics, Niels has been a member of the Royal Danish Society and its president since 1939. He was an honorary member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.
Bohr is the creator of the first quantum theory of the atom and an active participant in the development of the foundations of quantum mechanics. He also made a significant contribution to the development of the theory of the atomic nucleus and nuclear reactions, processes of interaction of elementary particles with the environment.

• Werner Heisenberg. Germany (1901-1976)

“The first sip from the glass of natural science is taken by an atheist, but God awaits at the bottom of the glass.”
Heisenberg is a great theoretical physicist, one of the creators of quantum mechanics. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics 1932. Heisenberg laid the foundations of matrix mechanics, formulated the uncertainty relation, and applied the formalism of quantum mechanics to the problems of ferromagnetism and the anomalous Zeeman effect. A number of his works are also devoted to physics cosmic rays, theory of turbulence, philosophical problems of natural science.
During World War II, Heisenberg was the leading theoretician of the German nuclear project.

Incredible memory, the ability to run indefinitely, and control your body temperature - superpowers acquired as a result of injury and evolution

For most people, talent is the ability to sing, dance, and so on. But some people can do more than that, and most of them can't even control themselves.

1. Orlando Serell

As sad as it is to have brain damage, there is a very small percentage of people who survive it and gain an unusual new ability. People who gain special abilities after a head injury are diagnosed with acquired savant syndrome. Typically, savants have amazing mathematical abilities or can, for example, draw Rome in great detail.

In 1979, Orlando Serell played baseball in elementary school when a stray ball hit his head. However, this did not bother him and he continued to play. For a year, Serell suffered from headaches that could last for hours. By the end of that year, he realized that he could do excellent calendar calculations, for example, he knew how many Mondays there were in the year 1980. Along with this incredible skill, he could remember every detail of every day, just like he had hyperthymesia. In Serella's case, there was no severe brain damage, but there was a head injury.

Ordinary people often envy the skills of savants. The reason savants have such good brain function is because they take everything literally and notice details that we don't pay attention to. This is why savants have great difficulty during various school tests: These tests ask broad questions that do not fit the narrow-minded way of thinking of savants.

2. Thai Ngoc

Vietnamese farmer Thai Ngoc suffered a fever in 1973, which at first did not seem unusual to him. But when the fever passed, he developed a severe case of insomnia. Hoping that it would go away in a week, Ty didn't give it any thought. of great importance. At this point, he had not slept for 40 years since the night he suffered the fever.

You might think that after 12,000 nights without sleep you would be dead, but after medical examinations he only found minor liver problems. Ngoc's only complaint is that he has become a little irritable after more than 30 years without sleep. He tried countless home remedies and even tried to drown his insomnia with alcohol. But nothing seemed to work. So why does his insomnia last so long?

One explanation can be given by such a phenomenon as microsleep. Microsleep occurs when part of your brain gets tired and decides to quickly take a few seconds of sleep. For most of us, this happens when we are tired - our brain temporarily switches off and then starts working again. A good example of microsleep is when a driver falls asleep while driving. That's probably why Ngoc doesn't sleep for so long.

3. Most Tibetans

The Sherpas, a Nepalese people, are famous for guiding people to Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. Nepalese Sherpas and most Tibetans have a feature that allows them to survive in the mountains at an altitude of about four kilometers above sea level. Just a few years ago, scientists had no idea how they did it. We now know that 87% of Tibetans have a special gene that allows them to consume 40% less oxygen than ordinary people.

The EPAS1 gene is responsible for Tibetans' ability to live at high altitudes for long periods of time. Most people who rise to an altitude of three kilometers have an increase in hemoglobin levels. Hemoglobin is a substance in our blood that helps distribute oxygen throughout the body. The EPAS1 gene prevents hemoglobin in the blood of Tibetans from rising above a certain level, which prevents heart problems that other people may experience.

According to researchers, Tibetans acquired this ability from the now extinct species Denisovan man. Denisovan people lived in the area where Tibetans now live, and the same EPAS1 gene was found in their fossils. Only Tibetans and some Pacific Islanders seem to have this gene, as Denisovans interbred with other human subspecies, creating a reserve of this gene until they became extinct.

4. Elizabeth Sulser

Nowadays, most people have heard of synesthesia, a condition in which certain senses of perception are mixed. For example, when people with synesthesia eat red Skittles, they can taste the cherry even though it's actually a different flavor, and some people can taste the color with their eyes closed.

Luckily, Elizabeth is a musician, so she unusual ability helps her significantly, allowing her to create symphonies and melodies from flowers. While remaining a largely mysterious condition, synesthesia doesn't seem to have had any adverse effects on Sulser, especially since she started seeing only music rather than all sounds at all.

5. SM

Anonymously known as "SM", this woman suffers from an unknown disease that has caused the complete destruction of her cerebellar tonsils (the part of the brain that controls fear). SM, a mother of three, cannot feel fear, no matter how frightening the situation is. In a study examining her capacity for fear, SM watched the worst horror films and touched the tongue of a snake.

However, SM remembers being afraid of the dark as a child, but by the time she reached early adolescence, her tonsils were already destroyed. She even described meeting a man while walking alone in a park at night. He ran up to her and put a knife to her throat. Instead of being scared half to death, SM calmly said that first he would have to go through her guardian angel, which scared the criminal. She now describes the incident simply as “weird.”

6. Dean Karnazes

Anyone who has ever taken part in a marathon knows that sometimes you need to take a quick break. As for Dean Karnazes, his muscles allow him to run forever.

Usually human body receives energy from glucose, which also produces lactate. If there is too much lactate, the body begins to produce lactic acid, which destroys the excess. Dean's body does not interfere with the accumulation of lactate, allowing him to never get tired. Dean started running high school, when he joined the running team. While team members could only run 15 laps on average, he ran 105 before being told to stop. From then on, he did not stop running until he was 30 years old.

Apparently interested, some scientists in Colorado tested its endurance. They said the test would take about 15 minutes, but Dean continued walking on the treadmill for an hour. Thanks to its unique ability he once ran 50 marathons in 50 days.

7. Tibetan monks

Monks from South Asia, especially Tibet, claim to have learned to control their body temperature using an ancient form of meditation called Tum Mo. According to Buddhist teachings, our life is not everything that exists; there is also a certain alternative reality. By practicing Tum-mo, the monks supposedly reached this other world. During Tum-mo meditation they produce a significant amount of heat.

While studying this strange phenomenon, scientists were amazed to find that the temperature of the monks' fingers and toes rose by as much as eight degrees Celsius. Tum-mo is not the only form of meditation practiced Tibetan monks. Other forms of meditation also allow monks to lower their metabolism. Metabolism controls the rate at which calories are broken down. People with slow metabolisms gain weight faster because their bodies can't break down calories quickly enough. Through meditation, monks can reduce their metabolism by approximately 64%. Unlike ordinary people, this allows them to conserve energy. By comparison, the average person's metabolism decreases by 15% during sleep.

8. Chris Robinson

One day, Chris Robinson woke up from a vivid dream in which two planes collided in midair. From that day on, he allegedly began to see the future in his dreams. In addition, Robinson can wake up exactly when he wants and record his dreams in a dream diary that he keeps.

Stan Lee himself (with the help of Daniel Browning Smith) conducted an experiment involving Robinson. He told Robinson that the next day they were going to take him to 10 places, and his task was to see these places in his dreams. The next day, Robinson wrote each place he dreamed of on a separate piece of paper and sealed them in envelopes. When they arrived at some place, they opened the envelope, and it turned out that Robinson had guessed everything.

Of course, the results look extremely suspicious. Robinson was tested again. This time he had to guess what the organizers put in the box. For 12 days, Robinson guessed once a day what was in the box. He guessed only two times out of 12, which does not prove the existence of psychic powers.

9. Eskil Ronningsbakken

Ronningsbakken, a performer who performs death-defying stunts, first learned about the art of balance when he was five years old. He became interested in this when, at the age of 11, he saw on TV a man doing extraordinary stunts. When Ronningsbakken was 18 years old, he ran away to the circus and performed for 11 years. He knew the art of balance was what he wanted to pursue.

Now in his 30s, Ronningsbakken risks his life by riding his bicycle upside down on a tightrope above a canyon and doing handstands on a bar suspended beneath a flying balloon. In the video below, he rides his bike backwards along a serpentine road in Norway. Ronningsbakken is not fearless, however, and admits that he gets very nervous before stunts. He believes that fear is the feeling that makes us human, and if he loses the feeling of fear, he will immediately give up everything because he is afraid of no longer being human.

10. Natalia Demkina

In Saransk, Russia, a girl named Natalia Demkina suddenly began to see through people's bodies. Since childhood, people have come to Natalia's house so that she can look inside them and tell them what ails them.

Interested in the “X-ray girl,” Dr. Ray Hyman invited her to New York to conduct a series of tests. One included six patients with diagnoses ranging from a removed appendix to a metal plate in the skull for a brain tumor and one healthy control participant. Natalia correctly named four out of six, which is certainly impressive, even though she claims to be able to see at the cellular level.

However, it is interesting that she confused the patient with the appendix with the patient with a metal plate in the skull - a serious mistake for someone who can see inside other people. At the end of the day, seeing a doctor or someone with x-ray vision is your choice.

Not long ago I was able to completely solve a crossword puzzle. Almost completely - only 3 or 4 words remained unsolved. I was proud of this achievement, told my friends (yes, all two) about it, and even thought about getting a tattoo to commemorate this event. But the moment I decided to edit the Wikipedia article about the smart person on the planet, disappointment awaited me. Disappointment dug into my ankle, growled and tore my pants: after seeing the biographies of other great people on the planet, I realized that the main achievement of my life was somewhat inferior to the achievements of other smart people. I had no choice but to talk about the 10 greatest geniuses of humanity.

Rating of the most brilliant scientists

Years of life: 11/07/1867 - 07/04/1934 (66 years)

Maria's maiden name, Skłodowska, is of Polish origin. Curie is the surname of her husband, Pierre Curie, who died in 1906 (they were married for 11 years). After the death of her husband, Maria began to devote more time to work, studying radioactive radiation. During the First World War, she trained doctors in the use of X-rays to produce images.

Maria is undoubtedly the most famous female scientist. She is the first and, to date, only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice. One of the chemical elements, curium (Ci). Unfortunately, long-term experiments with radioactive uranium did not go unnoticed - radiation sickness led to the death of Marie Curie from leukemia.

9th place. Stephen Hawking

Year of birth: 01/08/1942 (73 years old)

Hawking is the only living member of this rating. He graduated from Oxford and Cambridge, is a professor of mathematics and theoretical physicist, and the founder of the science of quantum cosmology. For his achievements in the field of science, he received a total of 25 medals and prizes. He studied the theory of the Big Bang and the nature of the formation of black holes, in which he achieved some success.

Around the age of 20, Hawking began to develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which left him confined to a wheelchair. He is completely paralyzed and Hawking has to communicate with others using a special speech synthesizer that reacts to the facial expressions of his cheek, which has retained its mobility. In the same way, this scientist can use the computer. This circumstance probably played a role in Hawking’s popularity - his outstanding work against the backdrop of such a depressing illness is admirable.

Stephen Hawking made a lot of efforts to popularize science. It is not surprising that he is so fond of being mentioned in various popular TV shows: Hawking voiced himself in several episodes of “The Simpsons” and “Futurama”, appeared twice in the series “The Big Bang Theory” and other shows less known to domestic viewers. And in 2015, Eddie Redmayne received the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as young Stephen in the film “The Universe of Stephen Hawking.” So Hawking is undoubtedly the most popular modern scientist.

8. Plato

Years of life: 427 BC - 347 BC (80 years old)

Plato, a famous philosopher of antiquity, was noted for opening the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher education among Western civilizations. Aristotle was one of the first students of this Academy. Not only philosophy was studied there: special attention was devoted to mathematics and astronomy, and a little less to natural sciences.

Taking the education system to a new level, which produced many outstanding minds in Greek and later Roman culture and contributed to the development of mathematics, is without a doubt a significant achievement. Over the last century, Plato's philosophical ideas have often come under criticism, although they still have their followers. For example, the doctrine of the immortal soul was reflected in many common Christian religions.

7th place. Aristotle

Years of life: 384 BC - 322 BC (62 years old)

It seems illogical - Aristotle is in 7th place, and his teacher, Plato, is in 8th place. In fact, everything is very logical - Aristotle’s contribution to science was more multifaceted. Plato was an ancient thinker who focused almost all his attention on politics, sociology and, of course, philosophy.

Aristotle went further - he began to pay attention to physics, writing several works in this area, and studied sociology. Aristotle laid down general principles logic that is still used today. It was he who introduced the concepts of ethics and ethics. Aristotle also did not hesitate to question some of Plato’s concepts, for example, arguing about the inseparability of soul and body. Another significant point in Aristotle’s resume is that he was one of the mentors of Alexander the Great.

6th place. Archimedes

Years of life: 287 BC — 212 BC (75 years old)

Unlike the comrades we mentioned above, Archimedes was not a philosopher - he studied mathematics, physics, and engineering. He made quite a lot of discoveries in the field of geometry and mechanics. The ideas of Archimedes surprised his contemporaries a lot, thanks to which amazing rumors circulated about him during his lifetime.

It is he who is credited with the saying “Give me a point of support, and I will change the whole world.” According to another popular legend, Archimedes figured out how to measure the volume of the crown when he immersed himself in a bathtub, displacing water from it. With a cry of “Eureka!” The scientist jumped naked into the street to quickly check his guess.

The older generation remembers the excellent and quite educational Soviet cartoon about Archimedes:

The historian Plutarch describes in detail how the Romans laid siege to Archimedes' hometown of Syracuse. With the help of machines invented by Archimedes, it was possible to repel any attacks by Roman troops from land and sea: powerful stone throwers threw attackers at close and long distances, and special cranes picked up and tossed enemy ships.

As a result, the assault failed and the Roman troops had to go on a siege. In the fall of 2012 B.C. the city fell, and Archimedes himself was killed. How exactly this happened is unknown - there are several different stories about the death of the great scientist. But everyone agrees that the consul Marcellus, who commanded the Roman legions, did not want the old man to die, realizing what a priceless treasure his mind was.

5th place. Galileo Galilei

Years of life: 02/15/1564 - 01/08/1642 (77 years)

Many people perceive Galileo as a symbol of the confrontation between science and the church. In many ways this was true - Galileo defended the idea that the Earth, along with the other planets, moves around the Sun while it remains motionless. Copernicus was the first to come to this conclusion, but his teaching was banned by the Catholic Church. Under pressure from the Inquisition, Galileo had to “repent” and defend the truth more carefully, so as not to formally violate the ban.

Galileo was the first to use a telescope to observe celestial bodies. He was able to detect Jupiter's moons, sunspots, and discover the fact that the Sun rotates on its axis. This discovery prompted Galileo to hypothesize that the Earth also rotates on its axis - this seemed more logical than the idea that the entire Universe makes a complete revolution around our planet in a day.

In addition to the telescope, Galileo has other inventions: the first thermometer, a microscope (though relatively primitive), and a proportional compass. Galileo was interested not only in astronomy, but also in physics, and was interested in optics and acoustics. He was the first to experimentally establish the density of air (not entirely accurate, but close to the truth).

Einstein and Stephen Hawking expressed the idea that Galileo is the father of modern science. His opposition to church dogmas allowed many generations of scientists to believe that man is capable of understanding the foundations of the universe. Although Galileo remained a Catholic, he did not betray his other faith - what he considered true. And some of his works became the basis for Newton's discoveries.

4th place. Leonardo da Vinci

Years of life: 04/15/1452 - 05/02/1519 (67 years)

Leonardo da Vinci is the only representative of our rating whose main activity was not science. It was tempting to think of another great master, Michelangelo, but da Vinci undoubtedly deserved his place among the smartest to a greater extent. Although, first of all, Leonardo became famous as an artist, he turned out to be comprehensively developed personality(sorry for the cliché): in addition to art, da Vinci was interested in mechanics, anatomy, medicine, literature and philosophy.

Leonardo's most famous paintings: La Gioconda (Mona Lisa) and The Last Supper. He painted in the genre of realism and was able to take it to a new level, introducing certain innovations into it.

Leonardo was also an inventor. For a long time he worked on an aircraft that could rise and fall vertically. In his drafts, da Vinci outlined an idea that has now been implemented in the airplane. The low quality of materials available at that time did not allow him to create a working model of such a device. In our time, Leonardo is often portrayed as a kind of genius dreamer who believed that science could make things happen. real magic and achieve the impossible.

Some of Da Vinci's other inventions included a parachute, a wheel-lock pistol, a bicycle, lightweight portable bridges for military use, a two-lens telescope, and even a prototype tank. Yes, maybe Edison can boast big list inventions, but think about it - Leonardo was able to come up with all this 500 years ago, even before Galileo appeared, at a time when in Europe many processes were ruled by the Inquisition, and serious scientific discoveries could be counted on one's fingers.

3rd place. Nikola Tesla

Years of life: 07/10/1856 - 01/07/1943 (86 years)

Born on the territory of modern Croatia, but at the end of the 19th century immigrated to the USA (Tesla is a Serb by nationality). It was he who became the man who brought alternating current to our world. The “war of currents” lasted for 100 long years, until in 2007 Edison’s direct current was finally defeated - New York completely switched to alternating current. And throughout the world, alternating current is most often used for long-distance transmissions.

Tesla was the first to develop electric generators, modernized prototypes of which are now in use. Nikola also contributed to the development of radio and radio-controlled equipment. It was he who was the first who was able to provide wireless current transmission - this technology has only recently begun to be used in practice (wireless chargers).

I almost forgot - once in the 30s Tesla made an electric car

Nikola Tesla can deservedly be considered the most mysterious person in the scientific world, whose name is shrouded in a large number of legends and rumors. Some legends even attribute an explosion to him Tunguska meteorite(of course, In fact not a meteorite). Meanwhile, such an aura of mystery is not only the merit of the entertainment industry. Tesla had enough of his own “cockroaches in his head”:

• He was fanatically obsessed with cleanliness;
• Didn't like women's earrings, especially those with pearls;
• He had amazing intuition - he once dissuaded his friends from boarding a train, which subsequently went off the rails;
• Slept only a few hours a day;
• I stayed only in those hotel rooms that are divisible by 3;
• While walking on the street, I could do a somersault simply because I was in a good mood;
• He did not and could not work in a team;
• Didn’t build romantic relationships with women (as well as with men) - he was a virgin;
• While walking, he liked to count the number of steps he took; during lunch, he liked to count the number of pieces of food, the volume coffee cups or bowls of soup. If he failed to do this, he did not enjoy the food.

This guy created the world we live in now. Do you know why? Without any benefit - just to make life more enjoyable.

I think fans will find this image familiar - they are such eccentric geniuses. Tesla for a long time remained the most famous inventor and scientist not only in the United States, but throughout the world - and can still lay claim to this title.

2nd place. Isaac Newton

Years of life: 01/04/1643 - 03/31/1727 (84 years)

Isaac Newton studied physics, astronomy, mechanics and mathematics. It was he who brought physics to its “classical” form, dotting the i’s in many issues. Newton was helped in this by the work of his predecessors, especially Galileo. To describe all the work Newton did would require a separate article no less in length than this one.

The secret of his success was that Newton rejected the centuries-old method of scientific research using logical guesses and constructions - such a practice gave rise to many far-fetched theories. Instead, Newton developed and refined powerful mathematical methods analysis (functions, differential equations, integrals) and viewed physics through the prism of mathematics, rather than philosophy.

As a result, Newton was able to unite all scientific experience, existing before it, and supplement the missing elements. This is how the law of gravitation and the law of motion (Newton’s second law) were formulated from beginning to end. These important discoveries could explain a lot in astronomy and mechanics.

Newton devoted a lot of energy to research in the field of optics. He was able to create the first mirror telescope (reflector), which made it possible to achieve a sharper and clearer image than its lens predecessors. Newton was one of the first to consider optics as a science and build it evidence base: with formulas, explanations and proofs - before this, optics was just a set of facts.

Isaac was able to understand the nature of light and color. He was the first to understand and prove that white color is not primary, but consists of a spectrum of all other colors - more precisely, from waves with to varying degrees refraction. He published 3 books on optics, which explained the basic principles and concepts of dispersion, interference, diffraction and polarization of light.

It is curious that Newton was a deeply religious man. At the same time, he viewed the Bible from a rational point of view, not hesitating to question many church dogmas. Isaac rejected the doctrine of the Trinity (which he did not widely advertise, so as not to have unnecessary problems with the law), studied the Hebrew language in order to independently study the Bible, published his interpretation of the book of Revelation and the chronology of biblical events, which he made on the basis of his own research. According to his chronology, the end of the world was supposed to come no earlier than 2060.

Listed above are not all the achievements of this scientist, who lived 300 years ago and, without a computer with the Internet at hand, had knowledge that most of us had never even dreamed of.

1st place. Albert Einstein

Years of life: 03/14/1879 - 04/18/1955 (76 years)

IN late XIX century, no one particularly aspired to be a theoretical physicist. After old Newton smashed most of the white spots to smithereens, it seemed that physics became simple and understandable. All that remained was to sort out some minor issues, organize everything and send out the resume in search of new job. And everything was fine until the next problem with the speed of light was discovered.

At that time it was known that light electromagnetic wave. Consequently, the speed of its propagation was calculated using Maxwell's equations. What happens if you try to calculate the speed of light of a spotlight that is on a moving train? Newtonian mechanics suggests an obvious answer - you need to add both velocities. But Maxwell’s equations did not confirm such a result, depriving physicists of their nightly rest and giving them mountains of contradictions.

Repeated attempts by the scientific community to solve the mystery did not bring any results - Newton's proven and reliable mechanics were not called into question, and efforts to upgrade Maxwell's equations were in vain. And only old Einstein figured it out and decided: probably Maxwell’s equations are correct - it’s Newton who screwed up somewhere. Questioning Newton's mechanics is like criticizing the multiplication table - it seemed like an absolutely crazy idea. But non-standard thinking allowed Einstein to come up with the special theory of relativity (STR), which put everything in its place.

According to her, everything physical processes in an irrational reference system occur in the same way, regardless of whether this system is stationary or in a state of uniform rectilinear movement. Simply put, the speed of light of a spotlight on a train will be the same for the train driver, for the person remaining on the station platform, and for the spotlight itself - for everything in the world. It will always be equal to the speed of light, no matter how fast the spotlight moves. Also, based on SRT, there is a maximum permissible speed (the speed of light).

To be honest, the very essence of SRT is explained here extremely superficially and partially - perhaps only a few people can actually understand and formulate all the postulates of this theory. If you want to figure it out, the Internet can help. STR generated a certain number of paradoxes, which Einstein was able to explain in general relativity(OTO).

Among other achievements, Albert Einstein was noted for his contribution to the development of quantum physics, discovered the existence of stimulated radiation, which formed the basis for the creation of lasers, and received the Nobel Prize in 1922 for the theory of the photoelectric effect (SRT was often criticized at that time and was not generally accepted). Albert was also noted for a number of different inventions.

Despite significant achievements in science, Einstein remained a simple, friendly and sociable person with a good sense of humor. He positioned himself as a pacifist, repeatedly speaking out against fascism, violence and all kinds of injustice. The great scientist bequeathed after his death a quiet funeral without publicity and magnificent ceremonies- He was an opponent of the cult of personality. Only 12 of his closest friends attended the funeral ceremony. The body was cremated and the ashes were scattered.

Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727). Artist G. Kneller. 1689

They say that Isaac Newton discovered the law of universal gravitation in his garden. He watched a falling apple and realized that the Earth attracts all objects to itself, and the heavier the object, the more strongly it is attracted to the Earth. Reflecting on this, he deduced the law of universal gravitation: All bodies attract each other with a force proportional to both masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The brilliant English scientist, experimenter, researcher, also a mathematician, astronomer, inventor, made a lot of discoveries that determined the physical picture of the world around him.

In 1658, King Louis XIV himself, a fan of the arts, was present at the debut of Moliere’s troupe at the Louvre Palace. Before His Majesty they played a farce, a cheerful comedy, “The Doctor in Love.” The actors tried their best, the king laughed until he cried. The play made a good impression on him. This decided the fate of the troupe - it was given the Petit-Bourbon court theater. After 3 years, Moliere, already a famous director, author of many comedies, together with his artists moved to another theater, the Palais Royal. Over 15 years of intensive work, Moliere wrote his best plays and became famous as an outstanding actor and reformer of the performing arts.

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Strict order reigned in the best French Jesuit college in La Flèche at the beginning of the 17th century. The disciples got up early and ran to prayer. Only one, the best pupil was allowed to stay in bed due to poor health - this was Rene Descartes. So he developed the habit of reasoning, finding solutions mathematical problems. Later, according to legend, it was in these morning hours that he had a thought that spread throughout the whole world: “I think, therefore I exist.” Like the great thinkers of antiquity, Descartes was universal. He laid the foundations of analytical geometry, created many algebraic notations, discovered the law of conservation of motion, and explained the root causes of the motion of celestial bodies.

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The founder of classical pedagogy, the Czech scientist Jan Amos Comenius, established in the 17th century that education in schools should be comprehensive in four age groups- children (up to 6 years), adolescence (from 6 to 12), youth (from 12 to 18) and higher school for youth from 18 to 24 years old. He was the first to express the idea of ​​publishing books for children with pictures, systematized educational process— introduced the concept of a lesson as the main form of classes with children. All of Comenius’ proposals and wishes, and there are many dozens of them, have become part of the practical experience of European pedagogy.

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The young Florentine Galileo Galilei, who studied at the University of Pisa, attracted the attention of professors not only with clever reasoning, but also with original inventions. Alas, the gifted student was expelled from the third year - his father did not have money for his studies. But the young man found a patron, the rich Marquis Guidobaldo del Moite, who was fond of science. He supported 22-year-old Galileo. Thanks to the Marquis, a man entered the world who showed his genius in mathematics, physics, and astronomy. During his lifetime he was compared to Archimedes. He was the first to declare that the Universe is infinite.

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William Shakespeare is considered a brilliant poet and playwright not only in Great Britain, but throughout the world. It is generally accepted that his works are a kind of encyclopedia of human relationships, they are like a mirror in which people, great and insignificant, are presented in their essence. He wrote 17 comedies, 11 tragedies, 10 chronicles, 5 poems and 154 sonnets. They are studied in schools, higher education educational institutions. No playwright could achieve such greatness as Shakespeare achieved after his death. Until now, scientists from different countries are trying to solve the question of how such a creator could appear in the 16th century, whose works remain relevant 400 years later.

The childhood of the future ruler of Foggy Albion was far from happy. Her father is the king Henry VIII- I was not happy about the birth of my daughter. England needed an heir to the throne, everyone was waiting for a boy. This was predicted by fortune tellers and astrologers. In honor of the future heir, knightly tournaments were organized, and a special font was prepared in the church for his baptism. And suddenly a girl. Henry only pretended to be a happy father. In fact, even then he decided to get rid of Anne Boleyn, his wife, the mother of his newly born daughter.

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