Nova Scientia

work by Tartaglia

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July 1, 2026

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Nova Scientia, published in 1537 by Niccolò Fontana Tartaglia, is a foundational work in the science of ballistics. This treatise is recognized as a pioneering effort to establish the laws governing falling bodies. Tartaglia, an Italian mathematician, earned his nickname "Tartaglia" (meaning "Stammerer") due to a speech impediment resulting from injuries sustained during the French sack of Brescia in 1512. He later moved to Venice, where he worked as a mathematics teacher. Nova Scientia represents an early attempt to apply mathematical principles to understand physical phenomena, contributing to the broader development of scientific methodology during the Renaissance.12

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Niccolò Fontana Tartaglia
Tartaglia’s Nova Scientia (1537; “A New Science”), a treatise on gunnery, is an important pioneering effort to establish the laws of falling bodies. Soon after the publication of this work, Tartaglia was asked by Girolamo Cardano, physician and lecturer in Milan, to publish his solution to…
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Tartaglia’s Nova Scientia (1537; “A New Science”), a treatise on gunnery, is an important pioneering effort to establish the laws of falling bodies. Soon after the publication of this work, Tartaglia was asked by Girolamo Cardano, physician and lecturer in Milan, to publish his solution to…
Read More