10 Smartest Human Beings Of All Time

Einstein was undoubtedly a genius, but there’s one scientist who deserves to be even higher on this list: Isaac Newton.

After surviving the upheaval of the English Civil War and the political turmoil that followed, Newton arrived at Cambridge University in 1661. But – surprisingly – he didn’t study science. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, which had mostly involved Aristotelian rhetoric, logic, ethics, and philosophy. However, during his time as an undergraduate, he also started to teach himself maths and science.

After graduating, he remained at Cambridge and embraced his new scientific interests. Circular motion, planetary movements, calculus, and optical research were the backbone of Newton’s postgraduate years. He soon started lecturing to new students and even found time to look into alchemy and theology.

Of course, the story of the apple tree is often the first thing people think of when discussing this great scientist. Though there’s no evidence to suggest the apple actually landed on his head, the falling fruit did ultimately lead to Newton’s law of gravitation, and said law is now a fundamental part of science.

Incidentally, Newton is also credited with the invention of the cat flap. Whilst it’s not the most revolutionary invention, it’s certainly a useful one.