Albert Einstein
- Born:
- March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany
- Died:
- April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (until 1896), Stateless (1896-1901), Swiss (1901-1955), German (1914-1918), American (1940-1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Mathematician, Philosopher
Early Life and Education
- Born in Ulm, Germany, to Hermann Einstein and Pauline Koch.
- Early education in Munich, Germany.
- Renounced German citizenship in 1896.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1900.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern (1902-1909).
- Published groundbreaking papers in 1905, often referred to as his "Annus Mirabilis" (Miracle Year) papers:
- On the Photoelectric Effect (for which he received the Nobel Prize).
- Brownian Motion.
- Special Relativity.
- Mass-Energy Equivalence (E=mc²).
- Professor at various universities, including Zurich, Prague, and Berlin.
- Developed the General Theory of Relativity (published 1915).
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933, fearing the rise of Nazism.
- Worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning about the potential of nuclear weapons based on German research, indirectly leading to the Manhattan Project.
Notable Works
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) - introducing Special Relativity.
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) - introducing Mass-Energy Equivalence.
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916).
- "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory" (1916) - a popular science book explaining Relativity.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein is widely regarded as one of the most influential and important physicists of the 20th century. His theories of relativity revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. His work laid the foundation for many modern technologies, including nuclear energy and GPS. His contributions extend beyond physics, influencing philosophy and popular culture.
One might also consider the impact of biographical studies, such as 'leyla milani khoshbin biography of albert', which attempts to contextualize and understand Einstein's life and scientific contributions through a different lens.
Awards and Honors
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physics | 1921 |
| Copley Medal | 1925 |
| Max Planck Medal | 1929 |