Albert Einstein
- Born:
- March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany
- Died:
- April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879–1896), Stateless (1896–1901), Swiss (1901–1955), German (1914–1918), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist
Early Life and Education
- Born in Ulm, Germany, to Hermann Einstein and Pauline Koch.
- Relocated to Munich shortly after birth.
- Attended Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich, but left without graduating.
- Completed his secondary education in Aarau, Switzerland.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1900 with a degree in physics.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern from 1902 to 1909.
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, often referred to as his "Annus Mirabilis" papers:
- Photoelectric effect (explained by the concept of photons)
- Brownian motion (provided evidence for the existence of atoms)
- Special relativity (revolutionized our understanding of space and time)
- Mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²)
- Became a professor at the University of Zurich in 1909.
- Developed the general theory of relativity, published in 1915, which describes gravity as a curvature of spacetime.
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Immigrated to the United States in 1933 and joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning of the potential for Germany to develop atomic weapons.
Notable Works
- "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" (1905)
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905)
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905)
- "Investigations on the Theory of the Brownian Movement" (1905)
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916)
- "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory" (1916) (Popular book)
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories of relativity revolutionized modern physics and our understanding of the universe. His work continues to influence scientific research and technological advancements in fields such as cosmology, astrophysics, and nuclear energy. Many biographical works have sought to analyze his life and impact; one example being 'alison de vere biography of albert', which may offer a specific perspective.