Albert Einstein

The life, and life's work of German-born scientist Albert Einstein Compiled by Mahdi Al Husseini on 11/8/2015

Personal Life

Albert Einstein was born to Herman and Pauline Einstein on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany. Einstein switched primary schools several times before attending Eidgenoessische Polytechnische Schule (ETH) in Zurich. In 1901, Einstein dropped his German citizenship to apply for a Swedish citizenship. Einstein took post at a patents office in 1902. This employment position allowed Einstein the opportunity to refine his theoretical physics theories. Three years later, Einstein would submit a doctoral thesis titled "A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions" which would be accepted. Over the next several years, Einstein would continue to advance professionally, into a position as head of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institute of Physics. Despite these successes, Einstein's personal life would suffer, with a divorce in 1919, and the death of his mother a single year later. By 1932, the situation in Germany had taken a turn for the worse with the rise of the Nazi party. Einstein made a move to the United States in 1933, cutting off all ties with German institutions. Albert Einstein would continue his work in physics, and the occasional splash into politics, until his death at the age of 76 on April 18, 1955.

Scientific Contributions

Theory of Relativity

Einstein's Theory of Relativity (sometimes known as the Theory of Special Relativity or Theory of General Relativity) determined that time and space are connected on a plane referred to as space-time. Massive objects create distortions in the space-time plane. Much as a heavy object on a piece of paper pulls the paper down, the impact of these massive objects on the space-time plane is what we feel as gravity.

For additional information, please reference Einstein's Theory of Relativity

Worm Holes

Wormholes (often referred to as the Einstein-Rosen Bridge) are hypothetical passages between far off points across the universe. Though the Theory of Relativity predicts the existence of wormholes, one has yet to be discovered. The wormhole concept of a shortcut across the universe has engaged prospects of teleportation, though there are a number of issue ranging from size to stability that prevent the survival of anything travelling through a wormhole.

Other

Fun Facts

Einstein was offered the position of President of Israel, but refused stating his lack of "natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people"

Einstein enjoyed sailing, playing violin, and smoking pipes.

"Albert Einstein is an anagram of 'Ten elite brains'"

Myths Debunked

Despite popular belief, Albert Einstein did not work on the Manhattan Project. The US Army refused to provide him the necessary security clearance, likely due to his liberal political ideology. Nevertheless, Einstein had written President Franklin D. Roosevelt a letter outlining the development of a fission uranium bomb, a decision he is said to have later regretted. Einstein's letter helped spur the development of nuclear weaponry.

The rumor that Einstein failed at mathematics in primary school is incorrect. By twelve, Einstein had already begun studying calculus and developing his own mathematical proofs!