“Eureka!”
-said no one ever in this century. Probably.

Seriously, I don’t even think the people in labs who score scientific wins say that anymore. They probably say “Fckkk ya!” coupled with a couple victory fist pumps during those “aha!” moments when the results support the hypothesis or a solution becomes crystal clear.

startrekwin

However, after Archimedes ran from the public bath with the same brainblowing epiphany about density that bores high school students today, he allegedly shouted, “Eureka!” as he streaked through the streets. And I don’t know what Eureka actually means. And I don’t know if this story’s actually true (Vitruvius’s veracity is questionable, and thus the whole anecdote is, ‘cause the dude wrote the wrong method down alongside the account).

Either way, the story stuck, and so did the name for this human experience, as the “Eureka Effect”.

It’s that moment of sudden insight about something that’s seemed inconceivably incomprehensible for long enough to befuddle you. That moment where the pieces of shattered neural glass arrange themselves. When the stars align. And the world makes sense again.

My personal interest in this happens to me also during Archimedes-like ablutionary instances. And I’ve heard other people say the same. It’s not always knowledge being dropped on us of monstrous mathematical proportions. Sometimes it’s as base as remembering to get gas or clip toe nails when I’d previously had that “Wait – what did I want to do?” internal eternal torture sessions.

But does it have anything to do with taking a shower? Sure, the act of cleaning ourselves under hot water is peacful and pensive – but sometimes when I give up on trying to sort out the solution and go do something else – whether it’s a cathartic shower, a drive, or working out, the answer comes within seconds.

Or here’s a good one – ever have a song lyric or actor’s face in your head? And you know the tune. And you know his name. And you know that it has an “R” in it (or was it “L”?) and you’re sitting there for fifteen minutes with the focused face of a caveman trying to figure out why a square wheel is inefficient. After fifteen minutes, you finally resolve to consult Google. You get out your computer, you type in the peripheral information you do know (“LYRICS to the song: ‘Put it in mah mouf, mah mothafu-“) – and WHAM! before you even hit the search button or even finish typing…

The answer suddenly befalls you through some Harry Potter wizardry.

emmastonebunny

What is that?

Also, why is it that whether I come up with some truly creative concept or just remember what kind of soup I want to get from the grocery store – I feel that same effect in my brain? That feeling of serene, focused attention? Like a flood of endorphins?

(Continued here)