the test of intelligence quotient (IQ) it is still used as a starting point to measure people's genius. But how to assign an IQ number to undeniable geniuses of the ancient world like Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton? Well, for that, scientists have created study methods that combine professional and academic accomplishments throughout the lives of these people and their contributions to modern society.
15 smartest people in history!
Although subjective, many lists present these 15 people as the smartest people to ever walk the Earth. Whether for their contributions to physics, biology, medicine, art, music or astronomy, these individuals are undeniable geniuses of history.
15 Stephen Hawking
Physical theorist Stephen Hawking never revealed his IQ number in life. Nor can we know whether the British genius ever took the test. What is undeniable, however, are his contributions to science. His book “A Brief History of Time” took its theories about the universe for the masses. Hawking suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and this condition never stopped him from continuing to investigate the mysteries of the universe until the end of his life. The physicist passed away in 2018 at the age of 76.
14. Marie Curie
A Polish physics and chemistry Marie Curie was a pioneer in the field of radioactivity🇧🇷 His discoveries served for the development of x-rays in surgery. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize and the first to win it twice. Her IQ is estimated to be between 180 and 200.
13. Thomas Wolsey
This mighty british cardinal he had his IQ estimated at 200. With enormous influence in the reign of Henry VIII, Wolsey came to control many matters of state and had great power over the Church. His downfall happened because of the famous affair between Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. The cardinal was unable to annul Henry's marriage and was therefore convicted of treason, having taken all his power.
12. Hypatia
A first woman in history to be documented as a mathematician she was also a philosopher and head of the Platonic school of Alexandria in the 170th century. Hypatia has an estimated IQ of between 210 and 415. This extraordinary woman also taught astronomy and philosophy. She was criticized for her pagan values and killed in the streets of Alexandria by Christian fanatics in the year XNUMX.
11. John Stuart Mill
One of the greatest voices on the economic liberalism, John Stuart Mill is considered one of the most influential philosophers of the XNUMXth century. His most recognized works include ethics, political philosophy and economics. Defender of individual freedoms and freedom and expression, Stuart Mill has an estimated IQ of between 180 and 200.
10.William Shakespeare
Undeniably one of the most influential writers and playwrights of all time, the very existence of William Shakespeare, however, is questioned. Some believe that many of the works we know today may have been by other authors. Despite this, his name was assigned as National Poet in England and the texts we know today resonate as an influence on several contemporary authors.
9. Nicholas Tesla
Important inventor and scientist, Nikola Tesla has an IQ estimated between 160 and 310 by different sources. Among his works, there are the studies that are the basis for the modern electrical power systems and alternating current.
8. Galileo Galilei
In the scientific revolution, period between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, Gallileo Galilei was a primordial figure. Mathematician, physicist, philosopher and astronomer, he has an estimated IQ between 180 and 200. His most important discoveries include studies of uniformly accelerated motion, the principle of inertia, the concept of inertial reference, among others. In addition, he helped to improve the refracting telescope, revealing the phases of Venus, the rings of Saturn and the satellites of Jupiter.
7. Thomas Young
Considered the founder of physiological optics for discovering astigmatism in 1801, Thomas Young was an important British physician, physicist and Egyptologist with an estimated IQ of between 185 and 200. One of his great discoveries was that the human eye changes shape when focusing on objects at different distances. Additionally, he helped decipher the Rosetta Stone, an ancient Egyptian star fragment that was instrumental in understanding hieroglyphs.
6. William Sidis
Many lists point to William Sidis as the smartest person who ever lived. This is also due to the mysticism surrounding the child prodigy that Sidis was. At age 2 he was already reading the New York Times and at 11 he entered Harvard. Expectations for the young mathematician and linguist they were big. Reporters followed him to various locations and eventually he became reclusive, taking menial jobs and abandoning the academic world. Sidis has an estimated IQ of between 250 and 300. He died at the age of 46 in 1944.
5. Nicolau Copernicus
the bright mathematician and astronomer Polish scientist became known for the development of the heliocentric theory of the Solar System. His work, however, was banned by the Catholic Church for nearly three centuries after his death in 1543. He had an estimated IQ of between 160 and 200.
4. Isaac Newton
The book "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" written by Isaac Newton in the late XNUMXth century was considered by many to be the most important book in physics and possibly science. Even though some of his theories have been refuted over the centuries, his contributions to the law of universal gravitation were fundamental to new discoveries. The IQ of this great science influencer has been calculated between 190 and 200.
3 Albert Einstein
Few names are literal synonyms for genius. Being called Einstein is usually an analogy to refer to someone very intelligent. O german physicist is best known for his general relativity theory and for your mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc2. From a Jewish family, Einstein lived in the United States when the Nazi party took power during World War II. He was one of the biggest critics of nuclear fission as a weapon of war.
2. Johann Goethe
Considered one of the most important authors in the world, Goethe has an estimated IQ of between 210 and 225. Einstein once said that the German writer was “the last man in the world who knew everything”. Goethe wrote novels, plays, poems and theoretical reflections🇧🇷 His best known works were "The Sorrows of Young Werthe" and "Faust".
1.Leonardo da Vinci
If Leonardo da Vinci were to fill out his CV on Linkedin, it would probably take quite a while. Painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer. Ufa! That multifaceted genius he was best known for his works as a painter, but he contributed to several inventions that influenced other artists and thinkers who would come after his legacy. His IQ is estimated between 150 and 220 by different sources.
The smartest people in the world today
Around the world, today's greatest geniuses continue to work in their fields and stand out for their achievements even in their childhood. Check the list.
5. Philip Emeagwali
O engineer and mathematician Nigerian Philip Emeagwali served in the Biafran army at just 13 years old. His studies were interrupted in 1967 and after the war he studied alone to complete high school. He stood out for use of new mathematical formulas to detect oil fields.
4. Garry Kasparov
Considered the best chess player ever, Garry Kasparov is also a writer and political activist, being one of the greatest voices of opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is also the ambassador for one of the largest cybersecurity companies in the world, Avast.
3. Ainan Cawley
With an estimated IQ of 263, this Prodigy child gave your first lecture at age 6🇧🇷 He passed strict chemistry exams at age 7 and began studying at Singapore Polytechnic a year later. Cawley taught himself biology and computer language. He is also a renowned pianist and composed the soundtrack for a short film in 2012.
2. Christopher Hirata
Imagine working for NASA at just 16 years old🇧🇷 With a verified IQ of 225, Christopher Hirata has been considered a genius since childhood. At the age of 22 he obtained his PHD at Princeton University and works in the fields of cosmology e astrophysics.
1. Terence Tao
With a verified IQ of 230, this australian mathematician of Chinese origin achieved a score of 760 on the SAT (a kind of entrance exam in the United States) at the age of 8. At age 20 he earned a PHD at Princeton University and became the youngest professor at the University of California at age 24. Tao is considered today one of the greatest living mathematicians. He says that his interest in numbers and patterns began at the age of 2, when he asked his grandmother to draw numbers with detergents on the windows of his house.
