16 years old, solved Newton's "350 year old problem"

16-year-old student Shouryya Ray stunned the world when he announced that he had found the solution to Issac Newton's 'legendary' problem that had baffled scientists for 350 years.



After announcing his answer, Ray was hailed as a 'genius' by the press. The student from Dresden, Germany, solved two fundamental theories of molecular dynamics that physicists and mathematicians had previously only been able to calculate using modern computers.

Ray's solution means scientists can now calculate the trajectory of a thrown ball and predict how it will hit a wall and bounce back.

16-year-old Shouryya Ray has been hailed a 'genius' after solving a theory put forward by Issac Newton

Shouryya Ray got into solving problems after a trip to Dresden University, where professors insisted that the theories could not be solved.

Ray explained: 'I just asked myself: Why can't it be done? I thought it wasn't that difficult a problem and didn't believe there wasn't a good explanation.'

The problem that Newton posed has been controversial in the scientific community for more than 350 years.

Ray began solving complex equations at the age of six, but refuses to admit he is a 'genius'. His reason: 'I have many weaknesses. There are other things at school I wish I could do better, like football.'

For many years, Ray has been passionately and tirelessly searching for what he calls the 'inner beauty' of mathematics.

As a child, his father, an engineer, began testing Roy's mind by giving him arithmetic problems.

After moving from Calcutta, India four years ago with no knowledge of German, Ray is now fluent in the language.

The student's intelligence was quickly recognized in class and he was given a special exemption to 'skip' 2 years. Ray is about to take the high school graduation exam even though he is only 16 years old.

According to VTC - H