Yesterday, Nidhi attended a pooja in the neighborhood. When she returned, she mentioned an animated discussion her friends had about quantum physics—a topic she found difficult to follow. I explained to her how quantum physics explores the dual nature of waves and particles, as well as the perplexing idea that we can’t be certain of an outcome until we observe it. This morning, she watched some videos on quantum physics, which helped her grasp the concepts better.

These events got me thinking about a broader topic that builds on itself: the nature of smartness.

  1. The primary evolutionary advantage of humanity is our ability to question our surroundings and investigate them systematically.
  2. Once we understand a situation, we can use that knowledge to our advantage.
  3. This leans the nurture vs. nature debate in favor of nurture.
  4. Smartness is when we consistently apply this newfound knowledge across different situations.