Synopsis

He was the preeminent scientist of his era, perhaps of all time. Yet, while Isaac Newton was unraveling the universal law of gravitation, he was also seeking hidden meanings within the scriptures and pursuing the clandestine practice of alchemy. In this program, NOVA delves into the enigmatic and intricate mind of Isaac Newton. Employing docudrama sequences with Scott Handy (of Masterpiece Theatre's Henry VIII) portraying Newton, this film reconstructs the distinctive atmosphere of late 17th-