Newton QCCQ

Quote: " In his scientific efforts Newton somewhat resembled a live volcano, with long periods of quiescence punctuated from time to time by massive eruptions of almost superhuman activity"

Comment:

I picked this quote because i like the comparison of Newton and a volcano. I think it was an interesting interpretation of him and his personality. It really made me think about it and try to understand just how he resembled a volcano. I also like how the comparison was unique and the author used big words to follow which built the comparison up making it all the more interesting. it also made me think about things that i might have compared Newton to.However nothing i could have came up with could have been as good as this one.    

Connection:

In a way I  connected to this whole reading since I learned a lot about Newton during the math in two minutes project. This quote specifically because i know that many of his discoveries were unbelievable and so was his knowledge of things. 

Question:   

By "superhuman activity" did they author mean his scientific findings? Or was he just trying to say he was smart in other more dramatic words? I also wonder why the author picked a volcano of all things and why he chose the words he did to describe what he meant.