ISAAC NEWTON experienced bouts of paranoia and psychosis in his fifties, after which time he focused largely on alchemy and pseudoreligious inquiries, including mapping the exact shape of...

Dec 12, 2019 · It’s easy to think of Newton only as a lonely and antisocial genius sitting at a desk, unraveling the mysteries of the universe. Yet there is so much more. In his lifetime, Newton vigorously...

Frank Manuel, in his biography, A Portrait of Isaac Newton, attempted to diagnose the source of Newton’s genius by means of what is, in effect, a retroactive psychoanalysis.

Or Isaac Newton, eccentric 17th century physicist, general headcase, and judging from his leviathan superego, a candidate for making the diagnostic criteria of at least half a dozen psychological disorders.

Jul 12, 2023 · Knowing something of Newton’s life, especially his early years, one gazes on these portraits seeking signs of genius and what the Encyclopedia Britannica—to take one standard reference—unapologetically characterizes as “psychosis.”

Feb 8, 2025 · Newton’s laws of motion and universal gravitation revolutionized physics, but his life was also marked by obsession, isolation, and periods of near-madness. We examine his lesser-known pursuits in alchemy and theology, his intense rivalries with fellow scientists, and the lasting impact of his discoveries on science and philosophy.

Feb 22, 2025 · In this 9-minute explainer video, we unravel the lesser-known aspects of Newton's life and intellect, revealing intriguing insights into his personality, beliefs, and the mysteries that shaped...

Here are some of the symptoms and behaviors exhibited by Sir Isaac Newton during his descent into madness in the late seventeenth century. Newton used mercury in his alchemy experiments, inhaling its fumes and even tasting it, thus ingesting its poison. Wikimedia. 1. He unwittingly poisoned himself with heavy metals.

Jul 6, 2014 · Nearly three hundred years since his death, Isaac Newton is as much a myth as a man. The mythical Newton abounds in contradictions; he is a semi-divine genius and a mad alchemist, a somber and solitary thinker and a passionate religious heretic.

Feb 8, 2025 · Each episode explores cutting-edge psychological research on creativity, unpacks the myths and realities of the "mad genius" trope, and examines the lives of history’s most celebrated artists, writers, musicians, and innovators who battled mental illness.