New research into Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks reveals that the polymath’s understanding of gravity was surprisingly sophisticated.

“In an article published in the journal Leonardo, the researchers draw upon a fresh look at one of da Vinci's notebooks to show that the famed polymath had devised experiments to demonstrate that gravity is a form of acceleration—and that he further modeled the gravitational constant to around 97 percent accuracy.“

More here. And in other Italian Renaissance genius news, one of Michelangelo’s preparatory drawings for the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel has been identified.

“The red chalk drawing has been linked to one of the figures battling serpents on the Worship of the Brazen Serpent painting. It is thought to date from 1512, shortly before Michelangelo painted that final section of one of the world’s most famous works of art, which he had started in 1508.

“The attribution has been supported by Paul Joannides, emeritus professor of art history at Cambridge university and one of the world’s leading authorities on Michelangelo, who will publish it in the scholarly Burlington Magazine.“

Read all about it.

Update: There’s also a potential Raphael, newly-identified by AI analysis of the brushstrokes.