Historia de la ciencia 2.0 | Isaac Newton y el canto de un duro
·12 min·1 clip
Isaac Newton discovered 20% of England's money was fake, launching a secret investigation to save the economy.
The episode begins with host Nacho introducing guest Pablo Arias for their recurring 'History of Science 2.0' segment. Arias immediately poses a puzzle: what connects Isaac Newton to the Spanish phrase 'the song of a duro,' referring to the old five-peseta coin? He explains that the episode will unravel this mystery. The narrative first establishes Newton's brilliance as a physicist and mathematician, but notes his solitary and eccentric personality from a young age. In 1689, Newton entered politics, becoming a Member of Parliament for Cambridge University. Surprisingly, over 12 years, he only spoke once in Parliament—to complain about a drafty window. The episode then shifts to Newton's appointment as Warden of the Mint. England's currency at the time was in disarray, with irregular coins and widespread wear. Newton initiated the 'Great Recoinage' to melt down and remake old coins. During this process, he discovered that approximately 20% of the circulating currency was counterfeit, a severe threat to the economy. Counterfeiting was considered high treason, punishable by hanging and dismemberment. Newton took on the role of investigator, going undercover in taverns to learn about counterfeiting networks. He conducted about a hundred investigations and successfully prosecuted 28 counterfeiters. The episode highlights one common counterfeiting method: shaving gold and silver from the edges of coins, which was hard to detect. Newton's solution was to imprint ridges or text on the edges of coins, making any tampering obvious. This innovation, implemented in the late 1600s, is still used on modern coins worldwide. The hosts briefly mention other scientist-politicians like Angela Merkel and Rubalcaba, and note that Newton's gravity explanation with a falling pen is a simplified school lesson. The episode concludes by dedicating the chapter to Newton's legacy, reminding listeners that every time they see ridges on a coin, they're witnessing his ingenuity.
