Publish at May 28 2018 Updated December 04 2025
The legend is well known, but for those who may have forgotten it, let us remind them. Archimedes, the Greek scientist to whom we owe many principles of hydrostatics and the principle of leverage, is said to have discovered his Archimedean thrust while taking a bath. Seeing how the water reacted as he immersed himself, he realized this law and cried out "Eureka", meaning "I've found it", as he ran naked through the streets of Syracuse. Having taken place over 2,000 years ago, it's hard to say whether this event is historically accurate. Nevertheless, the anecdote was so striking that the term has remained linked to scientific discoveries.
So much so that historians and the general public like to point to "eureka moments" in the history of science. The other best-known story is that of Newton, who saw an apple fall - or, according to some, hit his head - and thus came up with the law of gravity.
This list from the Smithsonian site also covers other discoveries made in these moments of chance and discovery, such as synthetic dyes, plastics and microwaves. But how do these Eureka moments happen? Neurologists and neurobiologists are trying to understand just how.
As the workings of our brains are still rather unknown to us, scientists are trying to understand what happens in them when we have a flash of genius. This can be seen with increasingly sophisticated magnetic resonance machines. Research carried out by American, British and Swiss scientists is attempting to analyze how this works. In fact, their hypothesis is that many ideas are stored in the subconscious. But no one knew how these ideas appeared in the conscious mind. So they set out to find out when this happens. Guinea pigs were asked to observe a screen on which dots were displayed. They had to follow them with their eyes like grains of sand, and see which way they were mostly swept (left or right). They were then asked to indicate on a clock when they thought they had made their decision. The study is still at a preliminary stage, but scientists hope to understand the mechanics of understanding.
Another recent study by Austrian and British researchers did manage to show what drives us to live these moments. They asked some 30 candidates to solve small riddles. These involved finding a word that linked three others. An example: the terms "suspended", "covered" and "Avignon" to arrive at "bridge". Each time, the researchers noted what happened when they found the answers. They noticed that the nuclei accumbens were active throughout the process, but particularly during discovery. They secreted dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure through reward. Hence the feeling of intense joy when a eureka moment arrives. We find ourselves rewarded by our brain.
On the other hand, we have to be careful with this idea of the eureka moment. In fact, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has warned people about this approach. The creation of the social network didn't happen overnight, and he didn't even know he'd be among the group creating it. It started out as an idea for students to connect one night, and little by little the concept improved. The historian points out that Newton's story has been somewhat embellished by biographers. Even that of Archimedes has surely been exaggerated.
Nevertheless, the fact remains that both had this flash of insight. And in both cases, we can see that they had a contemplative approach that may have helped in the development of their thinking. In some cases, it helped solve a problem. For example, the French doctor René Laennec had difficulty obtaining a heartbeat from an obese patient using the traditional method of listening with one ear to the chest. But when he saw boys playing outside and talking to each other through a pipe, he had the idea of a similar tool, but designed for doctors. Hence the invention of the stethoscope.
In short, it's important to teach that the eureka moment isn't that magical moment when the Muses come and touch you with an idea of genius. It's by using your creativity, reflecting and allowing yourself periods of contemplation that inspiration is nurtured and solutions found. For example, this graphic designer recalls that it takes a lot of trial and error before she comes up with the right idea. Sometimes she does something else, or talks about it with family and friends to get a flash. A flash of understanding is not a gift from heaven, but the fruit of hard work, contemplation and intense reflection.
Illustration : toptenalternatives analysis-blackboard-board-355952 via photopin (license)
References
Albreicht, Karl. "Have You Experienced "Eureka" Moments?" Psychology Today. Last updated September 29, 2017. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brainsnacks/201709/have-you-experienced-eureka-moments.
Clifford, Catherine. "Mark Zuckerberg: 'The Idea of a Single Eureka Moment is a Dangerous Lie'." CNBC. Last updated May 31, 2017. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/31/mark-zuckerberg-the-idea-of-a-single-eureka-moment-is-a-lie.html.
Handwerk, Brian. "Sometimes, a Scientific 'Eureka!? Moment Really Does Change the World." Smithsonian. Last updated March 6, 2018. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/sometimes-scientific-eureka-moment-really-does-change-world-180968331/.
"How Reflecting on Life Experience Can Lead to That Eureka Moment." Michaelandgeorge. Last updated November 28, 2017. https://michaelandgeorge.com/blogs/the-illuminators/illuminator-no1-becky-feiner.
Johnston, Ian. "Scientists Have Pinpointed the 'eureka' Moment in the Brain - and It Could Solve Some Philosophical Problems." The Independent. Last updated July 27, 2017. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/eureka-moment-brain-explain-biology-philosophy-issues-science-aha-archimedes-bath-a7863331.html.
Newman, Cathy. "How 'Eureka' Moments in Science Happen." National Geographic. Last updated May 23, 2017. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/05/eureka-insight-newton-archimedes-genius-science/.
Newman, Tim. "What Happens in the Brain During a 'eureka!" Moment?" Medical News Today. Last updated April 30, 2018. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321638.php.
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