What comes to mind when you hear the name Albert Einstein? Unruly hair, ingenious equations and a brain that changed our understanding of the universe are just a few things that might pop into your head. But what do we really know about this man behind the theory of relativity? In this article we will take an entertaining look at Albert Einstein’s interesting life and incredible work.
Early Life: The Birth of a Genius
Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany on March 14, 1879. He displayed a strong interest in mathematics and science from an early age, though it is said that he had difficulty with his studies due to the inflexibility of his education. It’s nice to know even geniuses have trouble in school sometimes!
One famous story tells of young Albert not speaking until he was four years old. Concerned, his parents took him to see a doctor who informed them that their son was simply a late talker. When he finally did begin speaking, legend has it that his first words were complaints about the taste of his food. Clearly, Einstein always had high standards!
Academic Journey: From Failure to Success
Einstein’s academic career was anything but smooth sailing. After finishing school in Switzerland, he struggled to find work as a teacher and ended up taking a job as a patent examiner in Bern. During his time there he continued studying and developing various theories which he would later become famous for. In 1905 alone – often referred to as his “miracle year” – he published four groundbreaking papers.
These papers covered the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, special relativity (the one with E=mc²) and mass-energy equivalence. The last equation became perhaps the most well-known formula in history because it suggests that matter can be turned into energy and vice versa.
The Theory of Relativity: Changing Our Understanding of the Universe
In 1905 Einstein published his special theory of relativity, which revolutionized physics by showing that space and time are not absolute but rather relative to an observer’s point of view. This was a radical departure from Newtonian physics, which had been accepted as gospel for over two centuries.
Then in 1915 he presented his general theory of relativity, which built upon his previous work and introduced the concept of curved spacetime. According to this theory gravity is not a force exerted between masses (as Newton believed), but instead caused by their warping of the surrounding fabric or “rubber sheet” of spacetime itself. The famous eclipse observations made in 1919 by Sir Arthur Eddington confirmed Einstein’s predictions and earned him worldwide fame.
Later Life: Celebrity Scientist Meets World Events
With his newfound international celebrity status, Albert Einstein traveled around the world giving lectures and collaborating with other physicists. However in 1933 when Adolf Hitler came into power in Germany, Einstein – being Jewish – left Europe behind for good and emigrated to America. He took up a position at Princeton University’s Institute for Advanced Study where he would remain until his death in 1955.
Einstein didn’t just make great contributions to science, he was also an ardent peace and social justice campaigner. He spoke out against nationalism and militarism, and supported the civil rights movement in America. He never lost his sense of humour or humility either. Famously, he said: “I have no special talent; I am only passionately curious.”
Fun Facts & Quotes
Let’s take a break from all the serious stuff and enjoy some light-hearted facts and quotes from Einstein:
Einstein’s love of music
He played the violin well and often said that if he hadn’t been a physicist, he would have liked to be a musician.
Fashion icon
With his wild hairdo and penchant for not wearing socks, Einstein once quipped: “Why should I wear socks? My feet are already covered!”
A Simple Lifestyle
Despite being world famous, Einstein had a humble lifestyle and believed in living simply. “Out of clutter,” he said, “find simplicity.”
The lasting legacy of Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein died on 18 April 1955 – but his legacy lives on. From relativity to humanitarianism, his ideas shaped our understanding of the universe while challenging us to think differently about ourselves. Until today these findings continue inspiring generations upon generations of scientists as well thinkers around them which were motivated by curiosity like nothing else could have done otherwise than inspire them too towards greater heights through creative perseverance within themselves until finally new frontiers were reached thanks solely due because such were left open wide enough even though they may appear narrow at first glance.
So next time you see a picture of Albert Einstein remember – behind those crazy eyes is someone who changed everything with their mind! And maybe take minute embrace this genius’ quirks because genius also happens be very strange altogether sometimes too.