Simultaneous innovations suggest that we may create in parallel.
Key Points
Simultaneous innovations reflect humanity's shared intellect and collective problem-solving capacity.
CRISPR exemplifies a 21st-century scientific breakthrough born of parallel ingenuity.
From calculus to the humanities, simultaneous innovations have shaped science and art across centuries.
Throughout history, simultaneous independent discoveries have highlighted humanity’s shared genius. These breakthroughs often address universal challenges and underscore humanity’s innate ability to solve pressing problems and reflect concerns collectively.
17th Century: Calculus
In the late 1600s, Isaac Newton (England) and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (Germany) independently developed calculus. Despite accusations of plagiarism, historical evidence confirms that their discoveries emerged separately. Newton’s method of fluxions emphasized rates of change, while Leibniz’s notation-based approach introduced integrals and derivatives. These distinct perspectives not only validated each other’s work but also laid the foundation for modern physics, engineering, and mathematics. Calculus remains central to advancements ranging from planetary motion to structural design, illustrating the enduring impact of this parallel breakthrough.
18th Century: The Discovery of Oxygen
In the 1770s, Carl Wilhelm Scheele (Sweden) and Joseph Priestley (England) independently identified oxygen as a distinct element. Scheele’s and Priestley’s experiments demonstrated that air was not a singular substance but a mixture of gases, one of which supported combustion and life. Antoine Lavoisier (France) later unified their findings, naming the element "oxygen" and systematically disproving the phlogiston theory, which had posited a fire-like element released during burning. Lavoisier’s work, grounded in the discoveries of Scheele and Priestley, revolutionized chemistry, establishing the principles of modern chemical reactions and the conservation of mass.
19th Century: Evolution by Natural Selection
The theory of evolution by natural selection is often attributed to Charles Darwin, but Alfred Russel Wallace independently developed a similar framework. In 1858, their findings were jointly presented to the Linnean Society of London. Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859) expanded on this work, detailing the mechanisms through which species adapt and evolve. Wallace’s contributions, though sometimes overshadowed, were equally foundational. This shared discovery transformed biology, offering a unifying framework for understanding life’s diversity and inspiring generations of scientists.
20th Century: Nuclear Fission
In 1938, two teams independently advanced the understanding of nuclear fission: Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn in Germany, and Enrico Fermi in the United States. Meitner’s theoretical insights, paired with Hahn’s experiments, explained how uranium nuclei could split into smaller parts, releasing tremendous energy. Fermi’s work on neutron bombardment complemented their findings. This breakthrough led to nuclear power and weaponry, fundamentally transforming energy production, medicine, and global geopolitics. The discovery also raised ethical questions about the responsible use of such powerful technology.
21st Century: CRISPR-Cas9
CRISPR-Cas9 is one of the most transformative scientific breakthroughs of the modern era. In 2012, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier demonstrated how CRISPR, a bacterial immune system, could be repurposed to edit DNA with precision. Almost simultaneously, Feng Zhang adapted the technology for use in mammalian cells. This parallel innovation was facilitated by advancements in molecular biology.
Impact of CRISPR-Cas9
Medicine: Enables precise editing of genes, offering potential cures for genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia and cancer.
Agriculture: Facilitates the creation of pest-resistant and climate-resilient crops.
Synthetic Biology: Engineers microbes to produce biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other valuable compounds.
While CRISPR holds immense promise, it also raises ethical concerns, such as the potential misuse in creating “designer babies” or unintended ecological consequences from genetically modified organisms. CRISPR exemplifies the profound potential of human ingenuity while underscoring the ethical challenges of major advances.
Simultaneous Creations in the Arts
Parallel breakthroughs are not confined to science—they often emerge in the arts, revealing shared cultural and creative currents. For instance:
Dennis the Menace (1951). In March 1951, Hank Ketcham’s Dennis the Menace debuted in the United States, while David Law’s version appeared in the U.K.’s Beano magazine just days later. Despite their shared name and concept of a mischievous boy, the two creations were entirely independent. These simultaneous launches illustrate how cultural zeitgeists can give rise to similar creative expressions across geographic divides.
Deep Impact and Armageddon (1998). In 1998, two blockbuster films about asteroid collisions with Earth were released just months apart: Deep Impact and Armageddon. Produced by different studios, these films highlighted humanity’s fascination with existential threats and our collective drive to imagine solutions—in the realm of fiction.
Art show promoter Ann S told me that the works presented by different artists in some of her shows often had similar themes although no theme had been suggested. A book agent reported to me that each of five authors of recent book proposals asked her not to tell anyone the theme. Each proposal focused on the same theme. In 2014, I invented the term simulpathity. At that time the word was not on the internet. In 2016, it was the title of a short film carrying the same idea—feeling the pain of a loved one at a distance.
Meaningful Coincidences: Reflections on Collective Consciousness
Simultaneous discoveries, whether in science or the arts, raise intriguing questions about the nature of innovation. Such patterns invite us to view these coincidences not as accidents but as expressions of shared intellectual and cultural currents. These moments of parallel ingenuity may point to an emerging collective intelligence, where humanity’s shared aspirations and knowledge converge to address current challenges. These events add continuing support to the idea of the collective consciousness as described by French sociologist Émile Durkheim. The idea of a collective human mind provides a framework for understanding how such discoveries arise.
Comment
By reflecting on these patterns across centuries in science and the arts, we uncover the power of human ingenuity and the intricate synchronicities that drive progress. Such discoveries invite us to appreciate the interconnectedness of human minds, offering a profound reminder of our collective genius. They suggest we may sometimes be thinking similar creative ideas without knowing it.
Photo by Noble Mitchell on Unsplash
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