{"id":778,"date":"2015-12-24T17:52:18","date_gmt":"2015-12-24T22:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.ams.org\/beyondreviews\/?p=778"},"modified":"2018-03-14T09:05:20","modified_gmt":"2018-03-14T14:05:20","slug":"happy-birthday-isaac-newton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ams.org\/beyondreviews\/2015\/12\/24\/happy-birthday-isaac-newton\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Birthday, Isaac Newton"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Isaac Newton<\/p><\/div>\n

Isaac Newton was born on December 25, 1642 (according to the Julian Calendar<\/a> in use in Great Britain at the time; in the Gregorian Calendar now used, that would be January 4, 1643). \u00a0When I lived in the UK in the late 1980s, many of the British mathematical physicists would wish one another a Happy Newtonmas at this time of year. \u00a0His birthday came at\u00a0the end of Michaelmas Term<\/a>, so people got the joke. \u00a0The<\/em> Big Bang Theory<\/em><\/a> glommed onto the joke in one of their episodes. \u00a0The relevant clip<\/a> is available on YouTube. \u00a0<\/p>\n

For this audience, Newton’s\u00a0influence on mathematics and science does not need repeating. \u00a0Remarkably for someone who died over two centuries before the advent of Mathematical Reviews<\/em>, Isaac Newton<\/a> has 43 publications in MathSciNet as of this writing. \u00a0Mostly they are new translations of his important works, or republications with commentaries. \u00a0Newton has 508 “Author\/Related Publications” in MathSciNet. \u00a0This is a catch-all category\u00a0that captures\u00a0publications that are either<\/em> written\u00a0by<\/em> him, edited by<\/em> him,\u00a0or about<\/em> him. \u00a0Again, it is a remarkable number.<\/p>\n

The concept of Newtonmas has been taken up by atheists and skeptics as an alternative to Christmas. \u00a0There is a touch of irony to this adoption, as Newton was rather religious, to the point of\u00a0publishing many religious tracts. \u00a0As we pass the winter solstice and come to the end of another (Gregorian<\/a>) year, I am happy to draw some attention to a seminal thinker in mathematics and the sciences. \u00a0I suspect Newton would be pleased to see that the fruitful interaction between mathematics and physics continues to be a two-way street.<\/p>\n

I wish you all a joyful and successful new year.<\/p>\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Isaac Newton was born on December 25, 1642 (according to the Julian Calendar in use in Great Britain at the time; in the Gregorian Calendar now used, that would be January 4, 1643). \u00a0When I lived in the UK in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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