These smartest physicists are the world’s most intelligent human beings the world ever known. The world of technology and knowledge is driven not by the rich and the wealthy but the intelligent and accomplished physicists that have graced this world once in a while. While many people may associate riches with intelligence the critical examination of the top list of the wealthiest does not necessarily include the most intelligent. Currently the top seat of the wealthiest is dominated by the likes of the telecom mogul, Carlos Slim, the computer magnate Bill gates and Warren Buffet.
While they have made immeasurable contributions to humanity, the real beasts of burden and razor sharp minds are the physicists that have churned out discoveries after discoveries laying a deep foundation to the realization of some of the technologies seen today. Here is a lists of the Smartest Physicists in the world.
1. Sir Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton tops our list of the world’s Smartest Physicists. He is no doubt one of the most brilliant physicists to have ever lived. He was born in the mid 17th century and lived for close to 85 years upon which time he had accomplished arguably much than any other scholar after him. He was an accomplished mathematician, reputed physicist and an unmatched philosopher.
He schooled in the Cambridge University and provided the basis of physics as is academically known today.
The principles he theorized and conceptualized are still applied today. These include the laws of gravity and motion and other concepts and principles that inspired huge interests amongst the future lineage of physicists after him.
2. Albert Einstein
Credit – Hebrewyou.com
He is a physicist of no mean reputation and is one of the most popular scholars of all time. He was born in 1879 and even at a tender age began expounding on Isaac Newton’s theories particularly pointing out the inherent inadequacies.
The theory of relativity is greatly based on Newton’s work and is regarded as a hybrid of the laws of mechanics and the laws of electromagnetism. His study and elucidation of the Brownian movement of molecules has withstood an equal measure of castigation and scientific critique to date.
He ventured into the thermal principles of light and his conclusions formed the basis of the photon theory of light. In his lifetime, Albert Einstein was a recipient of a number of honorary doctorates in American and European academic institutions and to crown his accomplishments he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics.
3. Robert Hooke
Fondly referred to as the “inspirational father of modern science in England”, Robert Hooke was a great physicist, philosopher and inventor.
Though largely unacknowledged in comparison with the above mentioned physicists his accomplishments were not any less notable. Born in 1635 in England, he graduated at the age of 26 years from Oxford University with a master’s degree.
Among his major accomplishments included the discovery of tiny living organisms in plants that he referred to as cells, modified the air pump that had initially been invented by Robert Boyle, he conceptualized the theory of elasticity and its relationship to the force exacted, he postulated the planetary motion theory and the elliptical paths followed by the planets as they orbit around the solar system and finally he is the father of microscopy, a title he acquired after devising what has been referred to as the first compound microscope ever.
4. Robert Boyle
chemteam.info
Alongside Robert Hooke, another physicist at the top of the line is Robert Boyle.
Born in the 17th century, he is regarded as one of the best intellectuals of his time. He was a great experimenter, an inventor and a physicist. He brought forth the idea of experimentation, reaching conclusions after intense observations and drawing appropriate conclusions rather than through arguments and following a set of logical rules as had been the norm.
He was indeed the first known scientist to have performed elaborate experiments and published his findings. His Boyle’s Law is what put him in the list of accomplished physicists. This law postulates that a decrease in the volume of a gas leads to a proportionate increase in pressure.
5. Marie Curie
nndb.com
Also topping the list of the world’s intelligent physicists is Marie Curie, a Poland born physicist, Mathematician and a chemist.
Living between 1867 and 1934, Marie Curie specialized in radioactivity research and discovered the existence of radio activity materials in Uranium. This discovery led to a more intense search for the particles that increased this radioactivity the answer to which she found in radium and polonium.
This led to her winning the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics and another one in chemistry in 1911 for having isolated radium and identifying its properties. It is her work that opened up the world of X-rays which she put to use during the First World War.
6. Sir James Chadwick
wikipedia.com
He is probably the chief architect of the foundations the development of the nuclear bomb that meted out unrivalled deaths and miseries in Japan towards the end of the Second World War. Having lived between 1891 and 1974, James Chadwick is one of the brilliant physicists that lived in the 20th century.
He is credited with the discovery of the existence of neutrons as the major building chips of the nucleus. This has been referred by most scientists as one of the most important discoveries the world has ever seen as it resulted in solving the atom puzzle that had evaded scientists for ages. It is this discovery that led to a Nobel Prize in Physics for Chadwick.
He paved way for the increased experimentation and studies of neutrons, the research into the nuclear fission that takes place after uranium is attacked with neutrons leading to the invention of the nuclear bombs and energy.
7. Edward Teller
http://cosmictusk.com
Building on the discoveries of his predecessor, Sir James Chadwick, Edward Teller tops the list of being amongst the world’s most intelligent physicists.
He tops this list not because of the morality of his accomplishments but the strength of his contributions to physics and science in general. Born in 1908 in Hungary, Teller made significant contributions to the world of nuclear physics, astrophysics and also in statistical mechanics.
He was a core member of the Manhattan project that brought together scientists working towards the development of atomic weapons. His ideas on thermodynamics led to the development of the first hydrogen bomb in the early 1950s. He was instrumental in the development and testing of some of the modern welfare equipments used today.
There is no doubt that this list brings together some of the most talented and accomplished physicists the world has ever witnessed. There are other important figures in the field of physics with immense decorations but this is the cream that has contributed towards making this world the place it is today. The likes of Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton continue to inspire generations and their works will indeed outlive that of any other scholar for generations.
Pingback: The World's Top 8 Smartest People •PalScience