Albert Einstein: Life and Legacy
Early Life
Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg in the German Empire. His parents, Hermann Einstein and Pauline Koch, were non-practicing Jews. The family moved to Munich shortly after his birth.
From a young age, Einstein showed a keen interest in mathematics and physics. He attended the Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, where he further developed his scientific knowledge and skills. He graduated in 1900 with a degree in physics.
Scientific Contributions
Einstein is best known for his theory of relativity, particularly the equation E=mc², which describes the relationship between mass and energy. His work fundamentally changed the understanding of space, time, and gravity.
In 1905, known as his "Annus Mirabilis" or Miracle Year, Einstein published four groundbreaking papers, including:
- Photoelectric Effect: Explained how light behaves as both a wave and a particle, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
- Brownian Motion: Provided evidence for the existence of atoms by describing the random motion of particles suspended in a fluid.
- Special Theory of Relativity: Introduced the concepts of time dilation and length contraction.
- Mass-Energy Equivalence: Demonstrated that mass could be converted into energy and vice versa.
In 1915, Einstein presented the General Theory of Relativity, which redefined gravity as the curvature of space-time caused by mass.
Personal Life
Einstein married Mileva Marić, a fellow physicist, in 1903, but the couple divorced in 1919. He then married his cousin Elsa Löwenthal. The duo had no children together, but Einstein had three children from his first marriage.
Einstein was not only a scientist but also an avid advocate for civil rights and pacifism. He immigrated to the United States in 1933 to escape the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany. He accepted a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
Legacy
Albert Einstein passed away on April 18, 1955. His legacy lives on, not only through his scientific contributions but also through his humanitarian efforts. He was a vocal advocate for peace, civil rights, and education, famously stating, "The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence."
Today, Einstein is celebrated as one of the most brilliant minds in history, and his theories continue to influence modern physics and cosmology.