Newton is one of the most influential scientists of all time. His work Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, which dominated the scientific view of the physical universe for three centuries. He also developed calculus (independently of Leibniz) and made major breakthroughs in optics, discovering that white light is composed of a spectrum of colors. As a key figure of the Scientific Revolution, his mechanical view of the universe remains a cornerstone of modern science and rational thought.