11/01/2025
Nice
In 1994, Bill Gates acquired Codex Leicester — also known as Codex Hammer — a rare scientific manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci, for $30.8 million at a Christie’s auction, outbidding multiple collectors. The notebook, handwritten in mirror script, contains Da Vinci’s 16th-century theories on astronomy, hydrodynamics, and geology. Rather than keeping it private, Gates commissioned high-resolution digital scans and released the contents as a CD-ROM in 1997, allowing the world to explore Da Vinci’s brilliance firsthand.
The Codex, written between 1506 and 1513, is a deep dive into Da Vinci’s studies on water — covering everything from whirlpools and hydraulic machines to engineering solutions for canals and land reclamation. Gates’ decision to share it with the world gave us all a glimpse into the genius of Leonardo — and showed how knowledge, even centuries old, still has the power to inspire. 🧠📜🌊
