Albert Einstein
- Born:
- 14 March 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, German Empire
- Died:
- 18 April 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879–1896), Stateless (1896–1901), Swiss (1901–1955), German (1914–1933), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Mathematician
Early Life and Education
- Born in Ulm, Germany to Hermann and Pauline Einstein.
- Moved to Munich shortly after birth.
- Initially experienced speech delays and encountered some challenges in formal education.
- Renounced German citizenship in 1896.
- Attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich, graduating in 1900.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland, from 1902 to 1909.
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, often referred to as his "Annus Mirabilis" (miracle year).
- These papers covered the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, special relativity, and mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²).
- Became a professor at the University of Zurich in 1909.
- Developed the theory of general relativity, published in 1915, revolutionizing our understanding of gravity.
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933 due to the rise of Nazi Germany.
- Worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, until his death.
- Authored a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, urging the United States to investigate the potential of atomic weapons.
Notable Works
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) - introduced special relativity.
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) - presented mass-energy equivalence.
- "Investigations on the Theory of the Brownian Movement" (1905) - explained Brownian motion.
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916) - introduced general relativity.
- Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (1916) - a popular explanation of relativity.
- Numerous scientific papers on various topics in physics.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories revolutionized physics and profoundly impacted our understanding of the universe. His work continues to be foundational in modern science and technology, influencing fields ranging from cosmology to quantum mechanics. As detailed in Shlomo Aronson biography of Albert Einstein, his influence extends beyond science into popular culture, making him a symbol of genius and intellectual achievement.