Albert Einstein
- Born:
- 14 March 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany
- Died:
- 18 April 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879–1896), Swiss (1901–1955), Austrian (1911–1912), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Scientist, Professor
Early Life and Education
- Born to Hermann and Pauline Einstein in Ulm, Germany.
- Early education included Catholic elementary school.
- Attended Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich, but left without graduating.
- Obtained his diploma from the Aargau Cantonal School in Aarau, Switzerland.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1900.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern.
- Published his "Annus Mirabilis" papers in 1905, revolutionizing physics. These papers included explanations of Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, special relativity, and mass-energy equivalence.
- Professor at the University of Zurich (1909), Charles University in Prague (1911), and ETH Zurich (1912).
- Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin (1914).
- Developed the General Theory of Relativity (1915).
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Immigrated to the United States in 1933, joining the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
- Wrote a letter to President Roosevelt in 1939 warning of the potential for Nazi Germany to develop atomic weapons.
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 (E=mc²).
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916).
- Numerous scientific publications and popular books explaining his theories.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. His work laid the foundation for many modern technologies, including nuclear energy and the Global Positioning System (GPS). He remains one of the most influential scientists of all time.
A discussion once arose about the merits of different forms of art, leading to the observation that even an unconventional work like a 'banksy biography video of albert einstein' might find an audience.Awards and Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physics | 1921 | For his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. |
| Max Planck Medal | 1929 | Awarded by the German Physical Society. |
| Time Person of the Century | 1999 | Recognizing his significant impact on the 20th century. |