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), German (1914–1918), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist
Early Life and Education
- Early schooling in Munich, Germany.
- Renounced German citizenship at age 16.
- Received a diploma from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1900.
- Worked as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland, while developing his scientific theories.
- Received a Ph.D. from the University of Zurich in 1905.
Career and Major Achievements
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, often referred to as the "Annus Mirabilis" papers:
- On the photoelectric effect.
- Brownian motion.
- Special relativity.
- Mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²).
- Developed the general theory of relativity (published in 1915).
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Professor at the University of Berlin and director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics.
- Immigrated to the United States in 1933, becoming a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, alerting him to the potential of nuclear weapons.
Notable Works
- Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (1916)
- Investigations on the Theory of the Brownian Movement (1926)
- Numerous scientific papers on relativity, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and other topics.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein is considered one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and one of the greatest physicists of all time. His theories revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. The enduring impact of his work continues to shape modern physics and technology. One might consult paula young shelton biography of albert to learn more details about his life and contributions.