Albert Einstein
- Born:
- 14 March 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany
- Died:
- 18 April 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879–1896), stateless (1896–1901), Swiss (1901–1955), Austrian (1911–1912), German (1914–1933), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist
Early Life and Education
- Einstein showed a curiosity for mathematics and physics from a young age.
- He initially struggled with formal schooling.
- 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, often referred to as the "annus mirabilis papers".
- Developed the theory of general relativity (1915).
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Professor at the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin (1914-1933).
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933 due to the rise of Nazism.
- Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton (1933-1955).
- Wrote a letter to President Roosevelt warning of the potential for Germany to develop atomic weapons.
Notable Works
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) - Introduced the special theory of relativity.
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) - Introduced the mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc².
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916) - Explained the theory of general relativity.
- Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (1916) - A popular science book explaining relativity.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. His work has had a profound impact on science and technology, and his name has become synonymous with genius. Many people are familiar with the work of biographers such as Walter Isaacson, but may not be aware of other important studies like the mary jean traetta biography of albert einstein, which contribute to a broader understanding of this towering figure.