Although Thomas Edison (1847– 1931) obtained 2,332 patents worldwide, one of his biggest contributions to modern society that is often overlooked is the employee selection tests he developed. Edison was not only a prolific inventor but also a businessman responsible for an industrial empire. This cultivated a more profit-driven, commercially minded approach, leading him to move away from the selflessness often associated with inventors.
In his quest to find exceptional employees capable of making effective business decisions, Edison created a questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge and character of job candidates. He began using this questionnaire in the late 19th century. Over time, the method and questions evolved to include scenarios not directly related to the job, for example, offering a candidate soup and asking whether they would add spices or salt before tasting it. Those who did were disqualified, as it indicated a tendency to act on assumptions.
In 1921, Edison introduced a knowledge test consisting of 140 diverse questions, tailored to each specific job position. All applicants were asked questions outside their area of expertise, such as - Where do we get plums? In which cities are hats and shoes made? Name three powerful poisons - and so on. A score of 90 percent was required to pass, and typically only a few succeeded. Among the 718 who took the initial test, Edison’s son, an MIT student, failed, as did physicist Albert Einstein, who forgot the speed of sound. Edison’s strategy of questioning candidates to evaluate both character and skills continues to influence hiring practices even today after more than a century. The greatest scientific contributions in human history are attributed to the British scientist Isaac Newton (1643– 1727), who died nearly 300 years ago.
Newton’s groundbreaking discoveries illuminated human understanding and paved the way for countless scientists. His theories, including the laws of motion and gravity, established the mathematical foundation for describing the movement of objects in classical physics. Newton’s laws are still taught and applied in fields such as engineering, mechanics, and astronomy, and likely will be for centuries to come. He formulated the law of universal gravitation, which unified the motion of objects on Earth with the motion of celestial bodies. He proved that the same force causing an apple to fall also governs the orbits of the Moon and planets, providing a unified view of the physical universe.
His fundamental mathematical contributions to calculus were also of crucial importance. Twenty-five years ago, Newton discovered that white light is composed of the colors of the spectrum through an experiment with a glass prism. His theory linked color directly to the nature of light itself. He also created the first practical reflecting telescope, paving the way for major advancements in astronomical observation.
Newton’s famous book “Principia”, published in 1687, was a breakthrough for science and is regarded as one of the most important books in human history. His uniqueness lay in his rare ability to combine profound mathematical insight, physical imagination, and a completely new approach to understanding the universe and organizing scientific knowledge. Newton achieved greatness in multiple fields. He presented a new vision of the universe as a stage governed by simple, precise laws expressible in equations, ending the reliance on supernatural or mythical explanations for the motion of celestial bodies.
Very few scientists in history have been able to formulate a comprehensive theory of such breadth and accuracy, one that revolutionized physics, engineering, and astronomy. His work had a profound impact on the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. Many historians and scientists believe that no other individual has contributed as much to the development of modern science as Newton, making him virtually unique in the history of human knowledge.
By Ahmad alsarraf
email: [email protected]
email: [email protected]
