Of course, the answer depends to a significant extent on what we mean by “success.” In terms of entrepreneurship, some studies show that many of the most successful entrepreneurs were first born. For example, the table below shows the birth order of some of the most famous entrepreneurs. While Larry Page and Sergei Brin (founders …
Mike, thank you for the question, it’s something that I am frequently asked. Traditionally, we associate the term “genius” with icons like Albert Einstein who were visionaries in arcane fields populated with mathematical equations that extend beyond the grasp of most humans. However, true genius is characterized by work that stands head and shoulders above …
Is Elon Musk’s success all a facade, or is he truly a genius? Read More »
I believe that all the brightest people I have seen, immersed in the study of mathematics and physics, are capable of understanding any of the concepts introduced in those subjects, provided they invest the necessary effort. Of course, there is not enough time to master all branches of any field, but such people can master …
Einstein’s greatest contribution to science came from his strong intuition and his willingness to challenge what was tacitly assumed by science. When Einstein arrived on the scientific scene, it was believed that time was absolute and that everyone in any frame of reference would measure time in the same way. In 1887, the experimental physicist …
When I was a teenager, I believed that highly educated and intelligent people were “smart” in all things. In graduate school, I had a chance to discuss ideas with some of the brightest people on the planet, but was often surprised at their depth of belief in a particular political or religious doctrine. Although their …
My answer will include Fields Medal winners as well as Nobel Prize winners because there is no Nobel for mathematics and the Fields Medal is comparable to the Nobel Prize. Nobel Prize in Physics The average age at which a physicist wins the Nobel Prize is 59 years, so many of the recent winners of …
Ravi Vakil, the Robert Grimmett Professor in Mathematics at Stanford University, began his two-year term as President of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) on February 1, 2025. Vakil, a foremost researcher in the field of algebraic geometry has played a strong role in promoting mathematical research as well as mathematical education. You may recognize him …
“Mathematics is at the center of Science & Knowledge.” Read More »
Many academically intelligent people succeed brilliantly in life, while others perform modestly, and still others achieve little and live an unfulfilling life. Those who win Nobel Prizes, become billionaire entrepreneurs or world-class surgeons, almost always come from the academically intelligent class of people. Furthermore, many of those who enjoy lives of quality, fulfilled by family, …
Why do many academically intelligent people struggle to succeed in life? Read More »
Since antiquity, it has been recognized that most of us increase our intellectual productivity throughout early adulthood, reach a peak in middle age, and decline in mental acuity as we move into old age. However, recent research has revealed that there is a great deal of variation, especially among highly intelligent individuals in their ages …
There are two main reasons why the achievements of our modern mathematical superstars are not as conspicuous as those of the great mathematicians of the past. • In the past two centuries, mathematical discoveries have grown at an exponential rate. • Much mathematical research today is conducted through collaboration, so credit is shared among several …
