Nova (TV Series) Newton's Dark Secrets (2005) User Reviews

Excellent introduction to Isaac Newton's life, work, and thought

[robert-temple-1 · 20 September 2011]

This is an excellent programme explaining first of all the important general work of Newton, and then the esoteric work. It explains how Newton invented the calculus (without showing us what calculus is or mentioning that it was simultaneously invented by Leibniz) and how he discovered gravitation, and his discovery that white light contains all colours, which are then split by prisms. It refers to his work on the elliptical orbits of the planets but does not mention Kepler's discovery of this at all! The psychological strangeness of Newton is mentioned, his extreme introversion, and the trauma of his mother abandoning him as a child, with his father already dead, and the rage this caused him later in life. The viewer is left in no doubt that Newton was a weirdo but also a world-class genius, and as some of those interviewed insist, the greatest of them all. I do not subscribe to that view, but then it is all a matter of opinion, isn't it? The Principia Mathematica is prominently mentioned without much explanation as to what it actually contained, except that we are assured that it was the greatest scientific book of all time (another matter of opinion). The programme stresses that Newton spent 30 years passionately and intensely studying alchemy (his 'dark secrets'). It is correctly pointed out that alchemy was not just superstitious mumbo-jumbo but was a serious attempt to obtain an understanding of matter, of substance, and of chemical change. It is mentioned that eventually Newton failed in his ultimate alchemical objectives (which no one today fully understands) and eventually abandoned that subject. The programme correctly states that Newton's work on alchemy, theology, and ancient chronology in bulk and effort far exceeded his work on physics and mathematics, and points out that few people realize this, which is certainly true. A very good job is done with the historical dramatic reconstruction episodes in this film, which really work very well. And the actor who plays Newton does so extremely successfully, and looks like him. All in all, this is an excellent introductory film about Newton for a general audience, makes few technical demands upon viewers, but informs them of much, and gives an interesting and rounded view of one of the great figures in the history of science as a person.

Great Documentaries

[rahmatafg · 10/10 · 26 December 2016]

Nova documentaries are great! I have watched this documentary multiple times. I really like the way Nova presents their documentaries. This documentary describes the life of Sir Isaac Newton and his inventions. The dark secret discusses the documents that are found which reveal Newton's papers in which he secretly practices alchemy in his secret lab. It also discusses the effect of alchemy research on Isaac Newton's inventions. The documentary describes Newton a silent and thoughtful young man, whose father died when he wasn't born and his mother moved away at the age of 3. It discusses Newton's struggle with other scientists on explanation of undefined force of gravity. The documentary ends with newton's breakdown after his failure on alchemy research and thus shifting to a noble personality.