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
Early Life and Education
- Born in Ulm, Germany, to Hermann and Pauline Einstein.
- Relocated to Munich shortly after birth.
- Received early education at a Catholic elementary school.
- Family business failure led to a move to Italy, but Albert remained in Munich to complete his studies.
- Renounced his German citizenship and moved to Switzerland.
- 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, known as his "Annus Mirabilis" (Miracle Year).
- These papers covered Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, special relativity, and mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²).
- Became a professor at the University of Zurich, then Prague, and then back to Zurich.
- 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 to escape Nazi Germany and joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, alerting him to the potential development of atomic weapons.
Notable Works
| Year | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" | Paper on the Photoelectric Effect |
| 1905 | "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" | Paper introducing Special Relativity |
| 1905 | "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" | Paper introducing Mass-Energy Equivalence (E=mc²) |
| 1916 | "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" | Paper outlining General Relativity |
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, light, and the universe. His theories continue to shape modern physics and cosmology. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time. Some might even say that roslyn oades biography of albert, if written, would only begin to scratch the surface of this magnificent individual's achievements.