We’ve all heard it. Someone messes up a simple task—like burning toast or forgetting to mail a letter—and a snarky observer drops the line: "It’s not rocket science." Or, if they're feeling particularly fancy, "It's not brain surgery." But honestly, have you ever stopped to wonder which one is actually harder? For decades, these two professions have served as the twin peaks of human intellect, the ultimate benchmarks for "being really, really smart."
It turns out, someone actually took the time to check the receipts.
Back in late 2021, the BMJ (British Medical Journal) published a study that looked into this exact question, and it quickly caught the attention of the New York Times and other major outlets. The researchers didn't just guess. They put 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons through a battery of cognitive tests. They wanted to see who had the edge in memory, planning, and emotional processing.
The results? Well, they were kind of a reality check for all of us.
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What the Rocket Science Brain Surgery NYT Coverage Revealed About Genius
The study, led by Dr. Aswin Chari, a neurosurgical trainee at Great Ormond Street Hospital, used a validated tool called the "Great British Intelligence Test." They compared the scores of the rocket scientists and brain surgeons against the general public.
Most people expect one group to totally dominate. You’d think the rocket scientists would be math wizards while the surgeons would be master technicians with photographic memories. But when you look at the rocket science brain surgery NYT analysis of the data, the truth is much more grounded.
Basically, the two groups were almost identical.
They weren't these untouchable titans of intellect in every category. In fact, when compared to the average person, neurosurgeons were significantly faster at solving problems, but their memory recall wasn't necessarily superior. Aerospace engineers, on the other hand, didn't show a massive speed advantage over the general population but were exceptionally good at mental rotation—basically visualizing 3D objects in their heads.
It makes sense. If you're designing a propulsion system for a Mars rover, you need to see how parts fit together in space. If you're navigating the delicate folds of a human cerebellum, you need to react quickly to what's right in front of you.
Why We Put These Careers on a Pedestal
The phrase "It's not rocket science" supposedly gained steam in the 1950s during the Cold War. America was obsessed with the Space Race. German scientists like Wernher von Braun were becoming household names. If you could put a metal ball into orbit, you were the pinnacle of evolution.
"It's not brain surgery" is a bit older, rooted in the terrifying complexity of the human mind. For a long time, the brain was a "black box." Messing with it meant high stakes—life or death, or worse, losing the essence of who you are.
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But here is the kicker: the BMJ study found that it might be time to retire both phrases.
"It is possible that both neurosurgeons and aerospace engineers are unnecessarily placed on a pedestal," the researchers wrote.
They suggested that maybe we should start saying "It's not a walk in the park" or something equally mundane. Because while these folks are definitely specialized and highly trained, they aren't necessarily "smarter" than the rest of us across the board. They're just really good at their specific, difficult jobs.
The Cognitive Breakdown: Who Wins Where?
If you really want to get into the weeds of the data, here is how it shook out:
- Problem Solving: Neurosurgeons were faster. Their "semantic problem-solving" speed was higher than the engineers. This might be because their job requires rapid-fire decision-making in an operating room where things can go south in seconds.
- Memory: No significant difference. Both groups performed similarly to each other and not much better than the average "civilian."
- Mental Rotation: The rocket scientists held the edge here. They are better at manipulating shapes in their mind's eye.
- Attention: Surprisingly, neither group showed a massive advantage over the general public in basic attention tasks.
The Reality of Professional "High-Stakes" Intelligence
When the New York Times covered this, it touched on a nerve. Why? Because we love the idea of "geniuses." We want to believe there are people with "super-brains" who can solve the world's problems. But the reality is that expertise is mostly about deliberate practice and specialization.
Take neurosurgery. It’s not just about being "smart." It’s about thousands of hours of residency, standing on your feet for 12 hours, and developing the fine motor skills to clip an aneurysm without trembling. It’s as much a physical trade as it is an intellectual one.
Rocket science is similar. It involves massive collaborative efforts. It’s rarely one "genius" in a room; it’s 500 engineers checking each other's math because one decimal point out of place means a multi-billion dollar satellite becomes a very expensive firework.
The "Smart" Stereotype is Shifting
Interestingly, the study also looked at the public's perception of these roles. We tend to view brain surgeons as more "high-status" or perhaps more intimidating. There’s a certain "God complex" trope associated with surgeons that doesn't usually apply to engineers. Engineers are often seen as the "nerdy" geniuses—brilliant, but maybe a bit more approachable.
But the data says they’re basically the same person, cognitively speaking.
Actually, the researchers noted that if you're looking for someone to help you with a task that requires a bit of everything, you might be just as well off asking a librarian or a plumber. Those jobs require massive amounts of diverse cognitive input that we often overlook because they don't involve "spectacle."
Why This Matters for You
You might be wondering why a study about British doctors and engineers matters to someone scrolling through the news in the US.
It's about the "imposter syndrome" we all feel.
We look at these high-tier professions and think, I could never do that. My brain isn't wired that way. But the rocket science brain surgery NYT takeaway is that the "wiring" isn't as different as you think. Most of what separates "elite" intelligence from "average" intelligence is the specific training and the environment.
If you spent 15 years studying neuroanatomy, your problem-solving speed would likely increase too. If you spent a decade in fluid dynamics, your mental rotation skills would sharpen.
The pedestal is a lie.
Actionable Insights from the Research
So, what do we do with this information? How does knowing that rocket scientists aren't actually "superhuman" help us?
- Drop the Pedestals: Stop using these professions as a shorthand for "unreachable intelligence." It limits your own potential and creates an unnecessary hierarchy in your head.
- Focus on Specialized Skills: Instead of trying to be "generally smart," realize that the most successful people in the study were those who leaned into a specific cognitive strength (like mental rotation for engineers).
- Value Speed vs. Accuracy: Understand that different high-level tasks require different brain "gears." Sometimes you need the neurosurgeon’s speed; sometimes you need the engineer’s spatial patience. Know which one your current project requires.
- Practice Visualization: Since "rocket science" skill-sets often involve mental rotation, you can actually improve this. Studies show that playing 3D video games or engaging in spatial puzzles can improve the same cognitive markers where the engineers excelled.
- Challenge Your Assumptions: Next time you think a task is "above your pay grade" intellectually, remember that the "experts" are often just people who stayed in the room longer than everyone else.
The debate is over. The "rocket science brain surgery NYT" saga proved that while both fields are incredibly difficult, they aren't magical. They are the result of hard work, specific cognitive leanings, and a whole lot of schooling.
So, the next time you're struggling to put together IKEA furniture, go ahead and say it: "It’s not rocket science." But then remind yourself—even the rocket scientists might struggle with those Allen wrenches, too. They’re only human.
The most important takeaway is that cognitive excellence is accessible. It isn't a fixed trait given at birth to a select few who end up at NASA or Johns Hopkins. It’s a set of tools. You might not be performing a craniotomy tomorrow, but the brain you’re using to read this is fundamentally the same model as the one used by the person who designed the James Webb Telescope. Use it accordingly.