Albert Einstein
- Born:
- March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany
- Died:
- April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879-1896), Stateless (1896-1901), Swiss (1901-1955), American (1940-1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist
Early Life and Education
- Born in Ulm, Germany, to Hermann and Pauline Einstein.
- Relocated to Munich shortly after birth.
- Early education at a Catholic elementary school.
- Later attended the Luitpold Gymnasium.
- Renounced German citizenship at age 16.
- Attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich, graduating in 1900.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland (1902-1909).
- Published groundbreaking papers in 1905, including on Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and special relativity.
- Professor at the University of Zurich (1909), Charles University in Prague (1911), and ETH Zurich (1912).
- Developed the general theory of relativity, published in 1915.
- Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin (1914-1933).
- 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 Nazism.
- Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey (1933-1955).
- Warned President Franklin D. Roosevelt about the potential for Germany to develop atomic weapons.
Notable Works
- Annus Mirabilis papers (1905)
- "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" (photoelectric effect)
- "On the Movement of Small Particles Suspended in Stationary Liquids Required by the Molecular-Kinetic Theory of Heat" (Brownian motion)
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (special relativity)
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (mass-energy equivalence, E=mc²)
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916)
- Numerous scientific papers and essays on physics, philosophy, and social issues.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's work revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, light, and the universe. His theories of relativity are cornerstones of modern physics and cosmology. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time. Many people looking into famous scientists have even considered a 'cleobulus of lindos biography of albert' type summary to rapidly understand the basic facts and importance of his life and work.