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A short history of nearly everythingThis was a reference to a piece of mathematics known as the inverse square law, which Halley was convinced lay at the heart of the explanation, though he wasnБЂ™t sure exactly how. Sr Isaac replied immediately that it would be an [ellipse]. The Doctor, struck with joy amp; amazement, asked him how he knew it. БЂWhy,БЂ™ saith he, БЂI have calculated it,БЂ™ whereupon Dr Halley asked him for his calculation without farther delay, Sr Isaac looked among his papers but could not find it. This was astounding-like someone saying he had found a cure for cancer but couldnБЂ™t remember where he had put the formula. Pressed by Halley, Newton agreed to redo the calculations and produce a paper. He did as promised, but then did much more. He retired for two years of intensive reflection and scribbling, and at length produced his masterwork: the Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica or Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, better known as the Principia. Once in a great while, a few times in history, a human mind produces an observation so acute and unexpected that people canБЂ™t quite decide which is the more amazing-the fact or the thinking of it ...» |
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