Did Newton Really Discover Gravity by an Apple Falling on His Head?

This episode explores the famous legend of Isaac Newton’s “apple moment.” While the story of an apple hitting Newton on the head is widely told, it isn’t true. Newton did recall that watching an apple fall made him reflect on why objects always fall straight down, but the dramatic “bonk on the head” version was invented later to make the tale more entertaining.

The myth stuck because it’s a simple, vivid story that makes a complex discovery easy to grasp. In reality, Newton’s theory of gravity came from years of study in mathematics and astronomy, building on the work of thinkers like Galileo and Kepler. The apple wasn’t the cause of his genius, but rather a symbol of his ability to connect ordinary experiences with profound scientific questions.

The episode highlights how we were fooled by a good story—one that humanized Newton, simplified his achievement, and made science more accessible. The truth, though less dramatic, is even more impressive: Newton revolutionized our understanding of the universe not through a single accident, but through relentless study and insight.