Because of the resounding impact of his work, Newton became a
science icon, as did
Albert Einstein after publishing his
theory of relativity more than 200 years later.[1][2][3] Many books, plays, and films focus on Newton or use Newton as a
literary device. Newton's stature among scientists remains at the very top rank, as demonstrated by a 2005 survey of scientists in Britain's
Royal Society (formerly headed by Newton) asking who had the greater effect on the
history of science, Newton or Albert Einstein. Newton was deemed the more influential.[4] In 1999, leading physicists voted Albert Einstein "greatest physicist ever"; Newton was the runner-up.[5]
Visual arts
William Blake created a colour copper engraving entitled Newton, in 1795.[6] The engraving would serve as the basis for bronze statue Newton, made in 1995 by the sculptor
Eduardo Paolozzi.[7]
Poetry
English poet
Alexander Pope was moved by Newton's accomplishments to write the famous
epitaph:[8]
Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night;
God said "Let Newton be" and all was light.
And from my pillow, looking forth by light
Of moon or favouring stars, I could behold
The antechapel where the statue stood
Of Newton with his prism and silent face,
The marble index of a mind for ever
Voyaging through strange seas of Thought, alone.
Newton is an important character in The Baroque Cycle by
Neal Stephenson. A major theme of these novels is the emergence of modern science, with Newton's work in the Principia being prominent. Newton's interest in
alchemy and the dispute over the discovery of
calculus are prominent plot points, and there is a (fictional) debate on
metaphysics between Newton and
Gottfried Leibniz moderated by
Caroline of Ansbach. The development of an economy based on money and credit is also a major theme, with Newton's time with the
Royal Mint and intrigues against
counterfeit leading to a
Trial of the Pyx.[citation needed]
Newton is a recurring character in
Gotlib's Rubrique-à-Brac series of comics, where he repeatedly discovers gravity or randomly bizarre laws after being (often very heavily) hit on the head by various objects, including the
famous apple.
The 2017 novel A Dragon's Guide to Making Your Human Smarter by
Laurence Yep features Newton as a character, having lived to the present day due to finding the
Philosopher's Stone. He is a teacher at the Spriggs Academy for ordinary humans and magical beings, and continues to create innovations such as a wormhole generator. Newton also displays a wry sense of humor, using his invention to prank
Charles II, supposedly on the grounds of refusing to knight him.
Newton is a significant historical character in
Marvel's
616 universe, first as an inductee and subsequent member of the
Brotherhood of the Shield,[14] then as the
sorcerer supreme[15] of his era. He is shown to be super-intelligent and inventive and often plays a villainous role.
"
Ghostwalk" is a story mainly about the mystery between Newton and Ezekiel Foxcroft's crime.
In
Ben Aaronovitch's
Peter Grant series of novels, Newton formalised the system and practice of magic in the United Kingdom in a process referred to as "The Newtonian Synthesis". Newton was also a founder of The Folly, the United Kingdom's state magical institution.
Plays
Arcadia,
Tom Stoppard, includes long discussions of topics of mathematical interest including: Fermat's Last Theorem and Newtonian determinism[16]
In the Japanese television show, Kamen Rider Ghost, the ghost of Isaac Newton helps the main character Takeru Tenkuji/Kamen Rider Ghost to access his gravity-controlling Newton Damashii form. Newton's ghost also helps him on his journey to unite the 15 Heroic souls.
In 2023, the character of Newton returned in the Doctor Who 2023 special, Wild Blue Yonder, played by Nathaniel Curtis.
25 December is the birthday of one of the truly great men ever to walk the earth. His achievements might justly be celebrated wherever his truths hold sway. And that means from one end of the universe to the other. Happy Newton Day!
Some atheists, sceptics, and others have referred to 25 December as Newtonmas, a
tongue-in-cheek reference to
Christmas. Celebrants send cards with "Reason's Greetings!" printed inside, and exchange boxes of apples and science-related items as gifts. The celebration may have had its origin in a meeting of the Newton Association at Christmas 1890 to talk, distribute gifts, and share laughter and good cheer. The name Newtonmas can be attributed to
The Skeptics Society, which needed an alternative name for its Christmas party.[28] Another name for this holiday is Gravmas (also spelt Gravmass or Grav-mass) which is an abbreviation of "gravitational mass" due to Newton's Theory of Gravitation.[29]
On this day long ago, a child was born who, by age 30, would transform the world. Happy Birthday Isaac Newton b. Dec. 25, 1642.
In a subsequent interview, Tyson denied being "anti-Christian", noting that Jesus' true birthdate is unknown.[30]
Newton's birthday was 25 December under the
Old Style Julian Calendar used in Protestant England at the time, but was 4 January under the
New Style Gregorian Calendar used simultaneously in Catholic Europe. The period between has been proposed for a holiday season called "10 Days of Newton" to commemorate this.[31]
^
Yeo, R. (2008). "Genius, Method, and Morality: Images of Newton in Britain, 1760–1860". Science in Context. 2 (2): 257–284.
doi:
10.1017/S0269889700000594.
S2CID145327679.
^Hickman (writer), Jonathan; Weaver (illustrator), Dustin (14 May 2011). S. H. I. E. L. D.: Architects of Forever (Hardcover ed.). Marvel.
ISBN978-0785148944.
^Thompson (writer), Robbie; Rodriguez (illustrator), Javier (6 June 2017). Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme Vol. 1: Out of Time (Paperback ed.). Marvel.
ISBN978-1302905903.
^Newton's Apple (Talk-Show), KTCA Minneapolis, 15 October 1983, retrieved 11 February 2022
^Peter the Great (Biography, Drama, History), NBC Productions, 2 February 1986, retrieved 11 February 2022
^Singer, Alexander (21 June 1993),
Descent, Star Trek: The Next Generation, retrieved 11 February 2022
^Tei, Andrew (5 July 2002).
"Anime Expo Friday Report". AnimeOnDVD.com. Archived from
the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008. Q) Where did the idea to use Isaac Newton as a model for Dornkirk (leader of Zaibach) come from? A) Kawamori answers by saying that Newton was an alchemist and wrote a book on alchemy. Kawamori came up with the theory that Newton discovered the "power" [of Atlantis]. He designed Dornkirk as not a bad guy.
^Conway, James L. (19 February 1996),
Death Wish, Star Trek: Voyager, retrieved 11 February 2022
^Singer, Alexander (19 February 1997),
Darkling, Star Trek: Voyager, retrieved 11 February 2022