The arms that grabbed the SpaceX Starship rocket out of midair, with people on top, for scale.
(photo: Shaun Gisler)
Coils of the world's largest superconducting magnet are lowered into their steel yoke at Argonne - 1969
Isaac Newton, one of the most influential scientists in history, was a man whose contributions to physics, mathematics, and astronomy laid the foundations of modern science. However, in a curious twist of history, his legacy is not only tied to his groundbreaking theories but also to a peculiar incident involving one of his teeth. In 1816, nearly 90 years after his death, one of Newton’s teeth was auctioned for an astonishing price. The sale of this tooth highlights the strange ways in which relics of famous figures from the past have been sought after by collectors.
Born in 1642, Isaac Newton is best remembered for his laws of motion and universal gravitation, which transformed our understanding of the physical world. He also made significant contributions to the field of optics and developed the mathematical principles of calculus. Newton’s intellectual achievements cemented his place as one of the most significant figures in the history of science. It’s no wonder, then, that any artifact associated with him would hold great value.
The story of Newton’s tooth is an unusual chapter in the broader phenomenon of historical memorabilia. In the early 19th century, long after his passing, a tooth attributed to Isaac Newton was put up for auction in London. Despite its humble nature, the tooth fetched a remarkable price of £730, which was an extraordinary sum for the time. When adjusted for inflation, that amount is estimated to be equivalent to around $62,000 in today’s currency. This astronomical figure for a single human tooth speaks to the fascination and reverence that surrounded Newton’s legacy, even more than a century after his death.
What’s particularly fascinating about the auction of Newton’s tooth is not just the amount it sold for, but the story that followed. The tooth was reportedly purchased by a nobleman, whose identity has been lost to history. According to accounts from the time, this nobleman had the tooth mounted in a ring, a common practice in the 18th and 19th centuries when personal relics were often turned into keepsakes or symbols of status. Owning a piece of Newton, even in the form of a tooth, would have been seen as a powerful statement of both wealth and intellectual admiration.
The Guinness World Records recognizes this sale as the most valuable tooth ever sold, a distinction that it continues to hold to this day. While there have been other notable sales of human remains, particularly those of saints and historical figures, Newton’s tooth remains one of the most unusual examples of such a transaction. It underscores the lengths to which collectors and enthusiasts will go to acquire tangible connections to figures who shaped the course of history.
This incident also speaks to the broader culture of collecting historical relics, which reached its height in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, the emerging middle and upper classes, particularly in Europe, became fascinated with objects associated with famous individuals. From locks of hair to pieces of clothing, personal effects of historical figures were highly prized. In a time before modern museums were widespread, owning a relic of a famous person was a way for individuals to engage with history in a personal and intimate manner. It gave them a direct, physical connection to the past.
Newton’s tooth, while certainly an unusual artifact, fits into this broader pattern of collecting. It reflects the 19th-century obsession with celebrity and the desire to possess something that had once belonged to a great person. Today, similar obsessions can be seen in the world of celebrity memorabilia, where items like clothing, jewelry, and even more personal effects of famous individuals can fetch enormous sums at auction.
Yet, there’s something particularly strange about the sale of human remains, especially when it comes to figures like Isaac Newton. While we often think of Newton as an almost mythic figure, it’s important to remember that he was, after all, a human being. The sale of his tooth reminds us of his mortality and the fact that even the greatest minds are subject to the same physical realities as the rest of us. It also raises questions about the ethics of such sales. In the 19th century, there were few if any regulations regarding the sale of human remains, and the practice was not uncommon. Today, however, such sales are generally frowned upon, and many countries have laws in place to prevent the trafficking of human remains.
Despite these concerns, Newton’s tooth has become a part of his legacy, albeit a strange and macabre one. It serves as a reminder of the fascination that continues to surround historical figures long after they are gone. While most people remember Newton for his scientific contributions, the story of his tooth adds a layer of intrigue and oddity to his already remarkable life.
In the years since the auction, the fate of Newton’s tooth has become a mystery. It’s unclear what became of the ring in which it was set, or if it still exists today. It’s possible that the tooth remains in a private collection, its whereabouts known only to a select few. Alternatively, it may have been lost to history, its significance forgotten over the years. Whatever the case, the sale of Isaac Newton’s tooth remains one of the more curious episodes in the annals of history.
In conclusion, the sale of Isaac Newton’s tooth in 1816 for what would now be considered an extraordinary sum reflects not only the reverence held for the great scientist but also the broader cultural practices of collecting historical relics. While the story may seem bizarre to modern sensibilities, it offers a unique insight into the ways in which people have sought to connect with the past. Newton’s tooth, now recognized by Guinness World Records as the most valuable tooth ever sold, serves as a strange yet fascinating footnote in the life of one of history’s greatest minds.
After a catastrophic volcanic eruption over 760,000 years ago, the Crowley Lake stone columns in California began to form. Geologists discovered in 2015 that as cold snowmelt seeped into the hot volcanic ash, tiny holes were created, producing steam and boiling water. This led to the formation of convection cells, which gradually filled with minerals more resistant to erosion than the surrounding ash. The result is these incredible stone pillars—a fascinating natural wonder shaped by time and unique geological processes.
SpaceX's super-heavy-lift Starship uses Raptor engines in its Super Heavy booster (the base of which is shown here) and in the Starship second stage. Super Heavy is powered by 33 Raptor engines, which are housed within a dedicated shielding compartment. The outer 20 engines, arranged in a single ring, are fixed in position. The inner 13 engines are equipped with gimbal actuators and can be reignited for the boostback and landing burns.
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