By 22, he was breaking new ground in quantum mechanics, and his brilliant math skills were a major factor in the success of the Manhattan Project, where the first nuclear bomb was built.
He invented “Game Theory,” coined the term "zero-sum," built on the work of Alan Turing and Kurt Gödel, and laid the groundwork for the computers we use today.
Neumann’s students adored him for his great sense of humour, despite the complexity of his lectures. He was the party king, but he'd suddenly stop to scribble a math proof on a napkin. He even enjoyed poking fun at his colleague, Albert Einstein.
Edward Teller, another genius physicist from the Manhattan Project, once remarked, “Neumann could chat with my three-year-old as if they were the same age.
Sometimes, I wondered if he used the same approach with us.” Unsurprisingly, people often say Neumann was the smartest person ever.
Intelligence is crucial, yet it is surrounded by many myths, like the outdated notion that we only use 10% of our brains.
Intelligence isn’t just about books or academic skills but general problem-solving. Motivation, curiosity, and personality are all important, but IQ is like the big boss that affects almost everything.
Smart employees usually perform better, no matter how complicated or simple their jobs are. For instance, janitors with higher IQs generally perform better.
In a nutshell, a higher IQ is better across the board. Emotional intelligence, although vital, doesn't trump IQ when it comes to job performance. The perks of being very intelligent extend beyond the workplace.
Studies have shown that IQ predicts longevity almost as much as avoiding smoking does. The catch is that it’s largely hereditary, with genetics accounting for about 50% of it. Your IQ stabilizes between ages 7 and 10, with only slight changes after that.
Substantial improvements are unlikely unless they address deficiencies like a lack of early education or iodine deficiency. Most interventions' effectiveness at increasing IQ is limited and often short-lived. These include:
- Brain training games.
- Preschool enrollment.
- Adopting a growth mindset.
Five Things to Make You Smarter
We can't change our genetic makeup, but part of why our IQs may be lower is within our control. You can't magically become a genius overnight, but there are a few things you can do to polish your cognitive skills and address your weaknesses. Here are five things you can try:
1. Get Enough Sleep
As obvious as it sounds, author Christopher Hitchens once said, "Never dismiss the obvious." It sounds simple, but many of us don't get enough sleep.
Matthew Walker, a sleep researcher at UC Berkeley, notes that two-thirds of adults in advanced countries don't get the recommended eight hours of sleep per night.
Adequate sleep is crucial for cognitive function, which suffers greatly from sleep deprivation. Educational studies show that losing just one hour of sleep can make a sixth-grader think like a fourth-grader. There's a strong connection between sleep and academic performance.
Students with straight A's get an average of 15 minutes more sleep than those with B’s, who in turn slept 15 minutes more than students with C’s, and so on. We even make better decisions after a good night's rest.
You’re probably familiar with the phrase “ Don’t drink and drive,” but still claim lack of sleep doesn't affect you. Studies show that sleep-deprived individuals are unaware of how impaired they are.
Participants who slept only 4-6 hours a night for a few days reported feeling slightly sleepy but insisted they had adapted. Even after 14 days, they believed sleepiness didn’t affect them, although their performance had significantly declined.
So, is there a quick fix to maintain mental sharpness without enough sleep?
Caffeine and nicotine might give a temporary boost, but they’re double-edged. Smoking is obviously harmful, and moderate caffeine intake can severely disrupt your sleep even when it’s generally healthy.
Research indicates that much of the negative impact on college students' grades stems from daytime sleepiness due to caffeine and insufficient sleep.
2. Exercise Regularly
Your mind works best when your body is healthy. Current studies suggest that exercise is the best way to enhance cognitive function.
Physical activity can boost Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), increasing learning capacity by 20%. Even a single workout session can significantly improve cognitive control.
If you want to maintain your IQ as you age, consider this: "An analysis of sixteen prospective studies involving over 160,000 individuals found that moderate levels of physical exercise reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 45%." Taking care of your body through sufficient sleep and regular exercise is crucial for your mental well-being.
3. Stay Calm
Your brain can be the most powerful engine in the world, but if someone else is steering, you won't reach your destination. Impulsive emotions can cloud your judgement. If you're overwhelmed by emotions, even your high IQ won't help you make wise decisions.
Scientists refer to this as "controlling heightened emotions." When you start feeling stressed, calm yourself with deep breathing. Teaching recruits to monitor their breathing increased success rates in the U.S. Navy SEALs from 25% to 33%. They didn't panic, fail, or give up.
Take enough time to prepare when you know you're facing a challenging situation. Feeling in control keeps your stress at bay and your mind clear. It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly effective.
If you ask a bomb disposal expert the key to staying calm and making the right decision, they'll tell you: "Know your next step and focus on it."
Keep in mind that intelligence isn't everything. It helps with straightforward decisions, but rational thinking can backfire for complex ones. Research shows that following your intuition in such cases is often the best choice, especially if you're an expert in your field.
Emotions are advantageous, so use them to make wise decisions without letting them run the show.
4. Focus
The internet is a vast playground for testing minds; either you learn new things or get sidetracked by all the irrelevant information. Spending too much time on social media, the hub of modern anger culture can be really distracting due to all the trivial topics posted there.
Multitasking is the second thing that can wear us out and overstimulate us. Neuroscience shows that your brain can't multitask. You might think you're good at it, but that's like believing you're unaffected by lack of sleep.
Your brain isn’t built to switch between tasks. Your focus and attention suffer each time you switch, equivalent to a 10-point drop in IQ. On the other hand, research shows that top-performing programmers work in distraction-free environments.
If you want to use your full intelligence, put your phone on silent, avoid apps that steal your attention, and set specific times to check emails, texts, and social media.
Turning off notifications lets your brain work at full capacity and encourages you to put more effort into performing at your best.
5. Ask for Help
Learning doesn’t bear fruit until you get used to asking for help when needed. Life isn’t a classroom where copying someone’s homework makes you a cheater. You can't learn the best practices on your own; you need to ask for advice regularly.
People are not always too busy to help, as you might think. Research says, "People underestimate the likelihood of others agreeing to a direct request for help by up to 50%." You might also worry they'll think you're stupid, but that's far from the truth.
Professor Adam Grant at Wharton Business School says, "Research shows that supervisors rated students who regularly sought advice and help from experienced colleagues higher than those who never did." The best approach is finding a suitable mentor to support your genius.
In his book Creativity, author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi interviewed over 91 of the world's most intelligent people, including 14 Nobel laureates. He found a common factor - almost all of them had a mentor by the time they entered university.
To Wrap Up
Does our intelligence decline as we age?
Science answers both yes and no. Research shows there are two types of intelligence: fluid and crystallised. Fluid intelligence is the ability to process and understand new information, while crystallised intelligence relies more on learning and prior knowledge.
Fluid intelligence decreases rapidly with age, starting around 25. However, crystallised intelligence doesn't peak until around age 60. Mathematicians and physicists often produce their best work in the first half of their lives, while great authors usually excel in the second half. As you age, focus on developing skills and knowledge.
Your IQ might not stay the same, but you can compensate by working hard and polishing your skills. Increase your expertise in a field you’re passionate about, and keep learning.
You might not be as sharp as the young, but if you focus on gaining knowledge in your field, they'll have difficulty keeping up.
IQ isn't everything; it's just a measure of potential. However, what you choose to do with it is the most important. Neumann was a prodigy in his day, but he used his intelligence to create hydrogen bombs that took many lives.
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