Treasure Trove (Zeeman Medal Lecture by Brady Haran) - Numberphile

Key Concepts:

• Royal Society Charter Book: A historical record containing signatures of Royal Society fellows.
• Principia Mathematica: Isaac Newton's seminal work on laws of motion and gravity.
• Squaring the Circle: An ancient geometric problem proven to be impossible.
• Copley Medal: The Royal Society's oldest and most prestigious scientific award.
• Fields Medal: A prestigious award in mathematics.
• Election Certificate: A document detailing the election of a fellow to the Royal Society.
• Objectivity: A YouTube channel featuring videos about scientific objects.
• Numberphile: A YouTube channel dedicated to mathematics.

1. Introduction and Thank You's

• The speaker expresses gratitude to the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, the London Mathematical Society, Jane Street, MSRI in Berkeley, Simon's Foundation, Bendel, University of Nottingham, the Royal Society, his wife Kylie, animator Pete McPartland, and the mathematicians featured on Numberphile, especially James Grime.
• He acknowledges the significance of the award and the support he receives from various organizations and individuals.
• He emphasizes the importance of his wife's contributions to his work, highlighting her media expertise and feedback.
• He praises Pete McPartland's role in Numberphile's success and acknowledges the mathematicians who appear in the videos.

2. Objectivity and Royal Society Objects

• The speaker introduces the YouTube channel Objectivity, which focuses on physical objects with a scientific or mathematical connection, often filmed at the Royal Society.
• He expresses excitement about showcasing objects from the Royal Society's collection.
• He acknowledges Keith Moore, the head librarian, and James Hennessy, the videographer, for their contributions to Objectivity.

3. The Royal Society Charter Book

• The Royal Society Charter Book is described as a "world's greatest autograph book" signed by fellows of the Royal Society over centuries.
• It contains the Royal Society's terms and conditions, royal pages for each monarch, and signatures of fellows.
• Examples of signatures include Charles II, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria, Robert Hooke, Ernest Rutherford, Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, and Martin Poliakoff.
• The speaker humorously rates the signatures, commenting on their legibility and style.
• He shares his own failed attempts at signing practice vellum, highlighting the pressure of signing the charter book.
• The book also contains records of fellows being expelled for various reasons.
• Kathleen Lonsdale and Marjorie Stephenson were the first women to sign the charter book in 1945.
• Isaac Newton's signature is noted for its small size and the smudging caused by people touching it.

4. Isaac Newton and the Principia

• The speaker discusses Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica, emphasizing its significance in the history of science.
• The Royal Society holds early editions of Principia, including a first edition that belonged to John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal.
• The manuscript for Principia, handwritten by Humphrey Newton and Isaac Newton, is also in the collection.
• The manuscript reveals Newton's calculations, corrections, and inky fingerprints.
• A cast of Isaac Newton's death mask is shown, and its new archival box, created by Adam Savage, is unveiled.

5. Christopher Wren's Dividers and Squaring the Circle

• Christopher Wren's dividers, a large set of measuring compasses, are presented, but their authenticity is questioned.
• The dividers were donated by Sir John Wolf Barry, the engineer who built Tower Bridge.
• An attempt to square the circle, a gold object sent by Charles Hudson, is shown. Squaring the circle is described as an impossible geometric problem.

6. Objects from the Speaker's Collection

• The speaker showcases items from his personal collection, including an unsolved Rubik's Cube and a bottle of Jack Daniels.
• The Rubik's Cube is deliberately kept unsolved to trigger viewers, but the speaker acknowledges that Erno Rubik prefers solved cubes.
• The Jack Daniels bottle is a one-of-a-kind item made for element 117, Tennessine, and was given to Yuri Oganessian, the only living person with an element named after him.
• The speaker recounts the story of acquiring the empty bottle at a ceremony in Moscow, humorously describing it as "stealing" from Russian nuclear scientists.

7. Medals and Awards

• The Copley Medal, the Royal Society's oldest and most prestigious award, is presented.
• A Copley Medal awarded to Joseph Priestley in 1772 is shown, along with Priestley's spectacles.
• The speaker humorously notes a possible misspelling of Priestley's name on the medal.
• Nobel Prize medals won by Sir John Cornforth and Sir John Vane are displayed.
• James Maynard, a Fields Medalist, is introduced, and his Fields Medal is displayed.
• The speaker shares a story about correcting Maynard's math before he won the Fields Medal.

8. Portraits and Hidden Details

• Portraits of Michael Atiyah and Robert May, former presidents of the Royal Society, are discussed.
• The speaker points out the bust of Isaac Newton in Atiyah's portrait, a common theme in presidential portraits.
• He reveals a hidden table tennis bat in Robert May's portrait, a nod to the artist and subject's shared hobby.

9. Christopher Zeeman's Election Certificate

• Christopher Zeeman's election certificate, a confidential document for 50 years, is revealed.
• The certificate includes biographical information and the names of the proposer and seconder, including Michael Atiyah.

10. Conclusion and Acknowledgements

• The speaker summarizes the objects presented and encourages the audience to view them up close.
• He thanks Keith Moore, Louisiana Felier, and Robert Baker for their assistance and knowledge.
• He promotes the Royal Society's website and encourages visits to the library.
• He expresses gratitude for the medal and invites questions from the audience.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The talk provides a fascinating glimpse into the Royal Society's collection, showcasing historical artifacts and personal stories behind significant scientific achievements. Through a blend of humor, personal anecdotes, and historical context, the speaker highlights the human element behind scientific progress and the enduring legacy of figures like Isaac Newton, Christopher Wren, and Joseph Priestley. The presentation emphasizes the importance of preserving and celebrating scientific history, making it accessible and engaging for a wider audience.