ISAAC NEWTON - FAMOUS BIPOLAR SCIENTIST
Sir Isaac Newton was an English scientist. He is noted for his contributions to the development of physics, mathematics, astrology, alchemy and natural philosophy. Aside his scientific career, Newton was a theologian too. His scientific laws and hypothesis are still in use today for scientific calculations and also to explain certain scientific and natural occurrences. Newton’s three laws of motion has been particularly used extensively to explain the behavior of objects when in movement or stationary. He was considered one of the influential people who ever lived. Newton was born on 25 December, 1964 in Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire. His scientific publication, the Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica is considered one of the most influential books in history.
Newton was enrolled at The King’s School, Ghrantham, but was removed by his mother to help her farm. Newton came back to complete King’s School on the persuasion of his mother by the schoolteacher. He gained admission to Trinity College, Cambridge where he had to work to pay for his cost of study. There, he developed the binomial theorem and started work on the infinitesimal calculus theory. Newton came up with theories on calculus, optics and the law of gravitation. He was appointed a fellow of Trinity at Cambridge.
Newton was believed to have suffered bipolar disorder. Newton was known to be very aggressive and remained insecure. He often exploded a violent temper whenever he felt threatened. He also suffered fits of depression through his life. His psychological problems led to a nervous breakdown when he worked five days without any sleep. He lost touch with the real world and believed everyone was out to destroy him. Many biographers have attributed his aggressiveness and insecurity to his childhood; his father died before he was born and his mother married another man, leaving Newton under the care of her parents.
Newton experimented on the refraction of light while lecturing on optics. He proved that the properties of colored light do not change whether reflected, refracted or absorbed. These observations became known as the Newton’s theory of color and form the bases for many studies and applications of light today. This theory is applied in discotheques, boutiques, cinema halls and theatres, where the properties of light are used to create special effects. Newton also continued his work on mechanics. He proved the existence of a force that pulls objects towards the earth and named it the gravitational force. He also established the law of universal gravitation and the all famous three laws of motion, which are the bases of mechanics today.
Newton wrote many religious tracts on the interpretation of the Bible, because he felt some people were misinterpreting the Holy Book. He also brought heavy criticism against the Catholics especially the French Catholics. He is believed to have practiced a radical form of Christianity, though not much evidence exists to that effect. Newton was also once a member of parliament in England. He never married and is believed to have been bi-sexual, based on certain reports.