One of the most famous personalities of the first half of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. This great scientist achieved a lot in his life, becoming not only a Nobel laureate, but also radically changing scientific ideas about the Universe.
He is the author of about 300 scientific papers in physics and about 150 books and articles in various fields of knowledge.
Born in 1879 in Germany, he lived for 76 years, dying on April 18, 1955 in the USA, where he worked for the last 15 years of his life.
Some of Einstein's contemporaries said that communicating with him was like a fourth dimension. Of course, it is often surrounded by a halo of glory and various legends. That is why there are cases when certain moments of their enthusiastic fans intentionally exaggerate.
We offer you interesting facts from the life of Albert Einstein.
Photo 1947
As we said at the beginning, Albert Einstein was extremely famous. Therefore, when random passers-by stopped him on the street, asking in a jubilant voice whether it was him, the scientist often said: “No, sorry, they constantly confuse me with Einstein!”
Once he was asked what is the speed of sound. To this the great physicist replied: "I am not in the habit of remembering things that can be easily found in a book."
Curiously, as a child, little Albert developed very slowly. His parents were worried that he would be retarded, since he began to speak tolerably only by the age of 7. It is believed that he had a form of autism, possibly Asperger's Syndrome.
Einstein's great love for music is well known. He learned to play the violin as a child and carried it with him all his life.
One day, while reading a newspaper, a scientist came across an article in which they talked about how an entire family died due to a sulfur dioxide leak from a faulty refrigerator. Deciding that this was a mess, Albert Einstein, together with his former student, invented a refrigerator with a different, safer principle of operation. The invention was called "Einstein's Refrigerator".
It is known that the great physicist had an active civic position. He was an ardent supporter of the civil rights movement and declared that Jews in Germany and blacks in America have equal rights with everyone. “Ultimately, we are all human,” he said.
Albert Einstein was staunch and strongly opposed any Nazism.
Surely everyone has seen a photograph where a scientist shows his tongue. An interesting fact is that this picture was taken on the eve of his 72nd birthday. Tired of the cameras, at the next request to smile, Albert Einstein stuck out his tongue. Now all over the world this photo is not only known, but also interpreted by everyone in their own way, giving it a metaphysical meaning.
The fact is that when signing one of the photographs with his tongue hanging out, the genius said that his gesture was addressed to all of humanity. How can it be without metaphysics! By the way, contemporaries always emphasized the subtle humor of the scientist and the ability to joke witty.
It is known that Einstein was Jewish by nationality. So, in 1952, when the state of Israel was just beginning to form into a full-fledged power, the great scientist was offered to become president. Of course, the physicist flatly refused such a high post, citing the fact that he was a scientist, and he did not have enough experience to govern the country.
On the eve of his death, he was offered an operation, but he refused, saying that "artificial life extension does not make sense." In general, all visitors who came to the dying genius noted his absolute calmness, and even cheerful mood. He was waiting for death, as an ordinary natural phenomenon, such as rain. In this, he strongly resembles something.
An interesting fact is that the last words of Albert Einstein are unknown. He spoke them in German, which his American nurse did not know.
Taking advantage of the incredible popularity of his own person, for some time the scientist took one dollar for each autograph. He donated the proceeds to charity.
After one scientific dialogue with fellow workers, Albert Einstein said: "God does not play dice." To which Niels Bohr objected: “Stop telling God what to do!”.
Interestingly, the scientist never considered himself an atheist. But he also did not believe in a personified God. It is well known that he declared that he preferred humility, corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual awareness. Apparently, until his death, he never decided on this concept, remaining a humble questioner.
There is an erroneous claim that Albert Einstein was not very strong at. In fact, at the age of 15 he had already mastered differential and integral calculus.
Einstein at 14 Having received a check for $1,500 from the Rockefeller Foundation, the great physicist used it as a bookmark. But, alas, he lost this book.
In general, there were legends about his absent-mindedness. Once Einstein was riding in a Berlin tram, and he was thinking about something intently. The conductor, who did not recognize him, having received the wrong amount for the ticket, corrected him. Indeed, rummaging around in his pocket, the great scientist discovered the missing coins and paid. “It’s okay, grandfather,” the conductor said, “just need to learn arithmetic.”
Curiously, Albert Einstein never wore socks. He did not give any special explanations on this matter, but even at the most solemn events his shoes were shod on bare feet.
It sounds incredible, but Einstein's brain was stolen. After his death in 1955, pathologist Thomas Harvey removed the scientist's brain and took photographs from various angles. Then, cutting the brain into many small pieces, for 40 years he sent them to various laboratories for research by the best neurologists in the world.
It is noteworthy that during his lifetime the scientist agreed that his brain should be examined after death. But he did not give consent to the theft of Thomas Harvey!
In general, the will of the brilliant physicist was to be cremated after death, which was carried out, but only, as you might have guessed, without a brain. Even during his lifetime, Einstein was an ardent opponent of any cult of personality, so he did not want his grave to become a place of pilgrimage. His ashes were scattered to the wind.
An interesting fact is that Albert Einstein's interest in science woke up as a child. When he was 5 years old, he got sick with something. His father, to calm him down, showed him a compass. Little Albert was amazed that the needle kept pointing in the same direction, no matter how he turned this mysterious device. He decided that there was some kind of force that made the arrow behave that way. By the way, after the scientist became known to the whole world, this story was often told.
Albert Einstein was very fond of Maxims by the outstanding French thinker and politician Francois de La Rochefoucauld. He read them constantly.
In general, in literature, the genius of physics preferred Bertolt Brecht.
Einstein at the Patent Office (1905) At the age of 17, Albert Einstein wanted to enter the ETH in Zurich. However, he only passed the math exam and failed all the others. For this reason, he had to go to a vocational school. A year later, he still managed to pass the required exams.
When in 1914 the radicals took the rector and several professors hostage, Albert Einstein, together with Max Born, went to negotiate. They managed to find a common language with the rebels, and the situation was resolved peacefully. From this we can conclude that the scientist was not from a timid dozen.
By the way, here is an extremely rare photo of the master. We will do without comments - just admire the genius!
Albert Einstein at a lecture Another interesting fact that not everyone knows. Einstein was first nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1910 for the theory of relativity. However, the committee considered her evidence insufficient. Further, every year (!), except for 1911 and 1915, various physicists recommended him for this prestigious award.
And only in November 1922 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1921. A diplomatic way out of the awkward situation was found. Einstein was awarded the prize not for the theory of relativity, but for the theory of the photoelectric effect, although in the text of the decision there was a postscript: "... and for other works in the field of theoretical physics."
As a result, we see that one of the greatest physicists, as it is believed, was awarded only the tenth time. Why would it be such a stretch? Pretty fertile ground for conspiracy theorists.
Did you know that Master Yoda's face in Star Wars is based on images of Einstein? The facial expressions of a genius were used as a prototype.
Despite the fact that the scientist died back in 1955, he confidently takes 7th place in the "" list. The annual income from the sale of Baby Einstein products is more than 10 million dollars.
There is a popular belief that Albert Einstein was a vegetarian. But this is not true. In principle, he supported this movement, but he himself began to follow a vegetarian diet about a year before his death.
Einstein's personal life
In 1903, Albert Einstein marries his classmate Mileva Marich, who is 4 years older than him.
The year before, they had an illegitimate daughter. However, due to financial difficulties, the young father insisted on giving the child to Mileva's rich but childless relatives, who themselves wanted this. In general, it must be said that the physicist hid this dark story in every possible way. Therefore, there is no detailed information about this daughter. Some biographers believe that she died in childhood.
Albert Einstein and Mileva Marić (first wife) When Albert Einstein's scientific career began, success and travel around the world affected his relationship with Mileva. They were on the verge of a divorce, but then, nevertheless, they agreed on one strange contract. Einstein suggested that his wife continue to live together on the condition that she agrees to his demands:
- Keep his clothes and room (especially the desk) clean.
- Regularly bring breakfast, lunch and dinner to the room.
- Complete renunciation of marital relations.
- Stop talking when he asks.
- Leave his room on demand.
Surprisingly, the wife agreed to these conditions, humiliating for any woman, and they lived together for some time. Although then Mileva Marich still could not stand the constant betrayals of her husband and after 16 years of marriage they divorced.
Interestingly, two years before his first marriage, he wrote to his beloved:
“... I have lost my mind, I am dying, I am burning with love and desire. The pillow you sleep on is a hundred times happier than my heart! You come to me at night, but, unfortunately, only in a dream…”.
But then everything went according to Dostoevsky: "From love to hate is one step." Feelings quickly cooled down and were a burden for both.
By the way, before the divorce, Einstein promised that if he received the Nobel Prize (and this happened in 1922), he would give it all to Mileva. The divorce took place, but he did not give the money received from the Nobel Committee to his ex-wife, but allowed her only to use the interest from them.
In total, they had three children: two legitimate sons and one illegitimate daughter, whom we have already talked about. Einstein's youngest son Eduard had great abilities. But as a student, he suffered a severe nervous breakdown, as a result of which he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Entering a psychiatric hospital at 21, he spent most of his life there, dying at 55. Albert Einstein himself could not come to terms with the idea that he had a mentally ill son. There are letters in which he complains that it would be better if he had not been born at all.
Mileva Marić (first wife) and Einstein's two sons Einstein had an extremely bad relationship with his eldest son Hans. And until the death of the scientist. Biographers believe that this is directly related to the fact that he did not give his wife the Nobel Prize, as promised, but only interest. Hans is the only successor to the Einstein family, although his father bequeathed him an extremely small inheritance.
It is important to emphasize here that after the divorce, Mileva Marich suffered from depression for a long time, and was treated by various psychoanalysts. Albert Einstein felt guilty for her all his life.
Nevertheless, the great physicist was a real womanizer. After a divorce from his first wife, he literally immediately married his cousin (on his mother's side) sister Elsa. During this marriage, he had many mistresses, which Elsa knew very well. Moreover, they spoke freely on this topic. Apparently, Elsa had enough of the official status of the wife of a world-famous scientist.
Albert Einstein and Elsa (second wife) This second wife of Albert Einstein was also divorced, had two daughters and, like the physicist's first wife, was three years older than her scientific husband. Despite the fact that they did not have children together, they lived together until Elsa's death in 1936.
An interesting fact is that Einstein initially thought about marrying Elsa's daughter, who was 18 years younger than him. However, she did not agree, so I had to marry her mother.
Stories from the life of Einstein
Stories from the life of great people are always extremely interesting. Although, to be objective, any person in this sense is of tremendous interest. It’s just that more attention is always directed to outstanding representatives of humanity. We are pleased to idealize the image of a genius, attributing to him supernatural deeds, words and phrases.
count to three
Once Albert Einstein was at a party. Knowing that the great scientist was fond of playing the violin, the hosts asked him to play along with the composer Hans Eisler, who was present here. After preparations, they tried to play.
However, Einstein never got in time, and no matter how hard they tried, they could not even play the introduction properly. Then Eisler got up from the piano and said:
“I don’t understand why the whole world considers a great person who cannot count to three!”
brilliant violinist
They say that once Albert Einstein performed at a charity concert together with the famous cellist Grigory Pyatigorsky. Right there in the hall there was one journalist who was supposed to write a report about the concert. Turning to one of the listeners and pointing to Einstein, he asked in a whisper:
“Do you know the name of this man with the mustache and violin?”
— What are you! the lady exclaimed. “It’s the great Einstein himself!”
Embarrassed, the journalist thanked her, and began to frantically write something in his notebook. The next day, an article appeared in the newspaper stating that an outstanding composer and incomparable virtuoso violinist named Einstein performed at the concert, who eclipsed Pyatigorsky himself with his skill.
This so amused Einstein, who was already very fond of humor, that he cut out this note, and on occasion said to his acquaintances:
Do you think I'm a scientist? This is a profound delusion! In fact, I'm a famous violinist!
great thoughts
Another interesting case is that of a journalist who asked Einstein where he wrote down his great thoughts. To this the scientist replied, looking at the reporter's thick diary:
“Young man, truly great thoughts come so rarely that they are not at all difficult to remember!”
Time and eternity
Once an American journalist who attacked a famous physicist asked him what is the difference between time and eternity. Albert Einstein replied to this:
“If I had time to explain it to you, it would be an eternity before you could understand it.
Two celebrities
In the first half of the 20th century, only two people were truly world famous: Einstein and Charlie Chaplin. After the release of the film "Gold Rush", the scientist wrote a telegram to the comedian with the following content:
“I admire your film, which is understood by the whole world. You will surely become a great person."
To which Chaplin replied:
“I admire you even more! Your theory of relativity is incomprehensible to anyone in the world, and yet you have become a great man.”
It doesn't matter
We have already written about the distraction of Albert Einstein. But here is another example from his life.
One day, walking down the street and thinking about the meaning of life and the global problems of mankind, he met his old acquaintance, whom he mechanically invited to dinner:
- Come tonight, Professor Stimson will be our guest.
“But I am Stimson!” – exclaimed the interlocutor.
“It doesn’t matter, come anyway,” Einstein said absently.
Colleague
One day, walking along the corridor of Princeton University, Albert Einstein met a young physicist who had no merit in science, except for uncontrolled conceit. Coming up with the famous scientist, the young man familiarly patted him on the shoulder and asked:
How are you, colleague?
- How, - Einstein was surprised, - do you also suffer from rheumatism?
He really had a sense of humor!
Everything but money
One journalist asked Einstein's wife what she thought of her great husband.
“Oh, my husband is a real genius,” the wife answered, “he knows how to do absolutely everything except money!”
Einstein quotes
Do you think all that simple? Yes, it's simple. But not at all.
Anyone who wants to see the results of his work immediately should become a shoemaker.
Theory is when everything is known, but nothing works. Practice is when everything works, but no one knows why. We combine theory and practice: nothing works ... and no one knows why!
There are only two infinite things: the universe and stupidity. Although I'm not sure about the universe.
Everyone knows it's impossible. But here comes an ignoramus who does not know this - it is he who makes the discovery.
I don't know with what weapons the third world war will be fought, but the fourth - with sticks and stones.
Only a fool needs order - genius rules over chaos.
There are only two ways to live life. The first is that miracles do not exist. The second - as if there were only miracles around.
Education is what remains after everything learned in school is forgotten.
We are all geniuses. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is a fool.
Only those who make absurd attempts can achieve the impossible.
The more my fame, the more stupid I become; and this is undoubtedly the general rule.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, while imagination embraces the whole world, stimulating progress, generating evolution.
You will never solve a problem if you think in the same way as those who created it.
If the theory of relativity is confirmed, then the Germans will say that I am a German, and the French that I am a citizen of the world; but if my theory is refuted, the French will declare me a German, and the Germans a Jew.
Mathematics is the only perfect way to fool yourself.
Coincidence keeps God anonymous.
The only thing that prevents me from studying is the education I received.
I survived two wars, two wives and.
I never think about the future. It comes by itself soon enough.
Logic can take you from point A to point B, and imagination can take you anywhere.
Never memorize what you can find in a book.
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Albert Einstein Albert Einstein- the largest physicist of the XX century, the founder of the theory of relativity.
For the discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect to the world in 1921, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (the idea of induced emission of atoms was later continued in the form of a laser).
He was the first to state the theory that gravity is nothing more than a distortion of space-time, which can explain many physical phenomena. Today's picture of the world is largely based on Einstein's laws. Einstein's personality since the publication in 1905 of the special "theory of relativity" has attracted enormous public attention.
Biography
Physicist Albert Einstein of German, Swiss and American descent was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, the medieval town of the kingdom of Württemberg (now Baden-Würtenberg in Germany), in the family of Hermann Einstein and Pauline Einstein, he grew up in Munich, where his father and uncle there was a small electrochemical plant. He was a rather quiet, absent-minded boy, with a mathematical bent, but he could not stand the teaching methods at school, with its automatic rote memorization and stone discipline.
In his early years at the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich, Albert himself began to study books on philosophy, mathematics, and popular science literature. The greatest impression on him was made by the idea of space. When the affairs of his father in 1895 were bad, the family moved to Milan. However, Einstein remained in Munich, leaving the gymnasium, while not receiving a certificate, so he also joined his family.
I don't know what kind of weapons the Third World War will be fought with, but in the Fourth they will use a bow and arrow!
At one time, Einstein was struck by the atmosphere of freedom and culture that he could find in Italy. Despite his in-depth knowledge of mathematics and physics, acquired through self-education and development, and his independent thinking far beyond his age, Einstein never chose a suitable profession for himself. His father wanted him to become an engineer and be able to feed his family.
But Albert tried to pass the entrance exams to the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, which did not require a special high school diploma to enter.
He failed his exams, not having the necessary preparation, but the director of the school, could not help but notice his talent and therefore sent him to Aarau, twenty miles west of Zurich, so that he could finish the gymnasium there. A year later, in the summer of 1896, Einstein successfully passed the entrance exams to the Federal Institute of Technology. In Aarau, Einstein blossomed greatly, basking in close contact with teachers and the liberal atmosphere that reigned in the gymnasium. He said goodbye to his past life with great desire.
scientific life
In Zurich, Einstein began to study physics on his own, relying more on independent study of the material. At first he wanted to teach physics, but failed to find a job and later became an examiner at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern, where he served for about seven years. It was a very happy and productive time for him. His early work was on the forces of interaction between molecules and applications of statistical thermodynamics. One of them - "A new definition of the size of molecules" - was accepted as a doctoral dissertation by the University of Zurich, and in 1905 Albert Einstein was awarded the title of Doctor of Science.
Another paper proposed an explanation for the photoelectric effect - which was emitted by the electrons of a metal surface under the influence of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range.
The third, excellent work of Einstein, which was published in 1905- was called the special theory of relativity, which managed to completely change the whole understanding of physics.
After he published most of his scientific papers in 1905, Einstein received full academic recognition.
In 1914, Albert was invited to Germany to become a professor at the University of Berlin and at the same time director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics (now the Max Planck Institute).
After hard work, Einstein succeeded in 1915 in founding the general theory of relativity, which went far beyond the scope of the special theory, in which motions must be uniform and relative velocities must be stable. The general theory of relativity covered all possible motions, including accelerated ones (i.e., occurring at a variable speed).
Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity was able to replace Newton's theory of the gravitational attraction of bodies in space-time. According to this theory, bodies are not able to attract each other, they change and determine the bodies passing through it. Einstein's colleague physicist J. A. Wheeler observed that "space tells matter itself how it needs to move, and matter tells space how it needs to curve."
In 1922, Einstein was awarded the 1921 Nobel Peace Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and in particular for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect."
“Einstein's law has become the basis of photochemistry in the same way that Faraday's law has become the foundation of electrochemistry,” Svante Arrhenius of the Royal Swedish Academy said at the presentation of the new laureate.
Since he said in advance that he was performing in Japan, Albert was unable to attend the award ceremony and read his Nobel lecture one year after he was awarded the award.
When Hitler came to power in 1933, Einstein was outside the borders of Germany, never returning there. Einstein ended up as a professor of physics at the new Institute for Basic Research, which was established in Princeton, New Jersey. In 1940, Einstein was awarded American citizenship. During the years of the Second World War, Einstein revised his pacifist views, in 1939, under the guidance of some emigrant physicists, Einstein wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in which he wrote that Germany was most likely developing an atomic bomb . He pointed to the need for US government support for uranium fission research.
After the Second World War, which shocked the world with the use of a nuclear bomb against Japan, Einstein, shortly before his death, signed the treaty of Bertrand Russell indicating and warning the entire planet about the danger of using a nuclear bomb.
The most famous of all scientists of the XX century. and one of the greatest scientists of all time, Albert Einstein enriched the entire theory and practice of physics with his own imaginative play. From childhood, he perceived the earth as a harmonic cognizable whole, "standing before us like a great and eternal riddle." By his own admission, he believed in "the God of Spinoza, who manifests himself in the harmony of all things."
Among the many honors that were constantly offered to him, one of the most honorable was the offer to become President of Israel, which followed in 1952. Einstein refused. In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, he was awarded many other awards, including the Copley Medal of the Royal Society of London (1925) and the Franklin Medal of the Franklin Institute (1935). Einstein was an honorary doctor of many universities and a member of leading academies of sciences.
Of course, Albert Einstein is one of the greatest and smartest people in history, who gave our world a lot of discoveries. An interesting fact is that during the study by scientists of his brain, it was found that those areas that are responsible for speech and language in anyone are reduced, and the areas responsible for computing abilities, on the contrary, are larger than in the average person.
Other studies showed that it had significantly more neuronal cells and improved communication between them. This is what is responsible for the mental activity of a person.
A successful person is always an amazing artist of his imagination. Imagination is much more important than knowledge, because knowledge is limited, but imagination is limitless.
Albert completed his senior year in Switzerland, where a standard six-point system was used. Einstein's certificate has survived to our times, and his grades indicate that he studied well. His grade point average was five.
Albert knew the exact sciences excellently, but languages and drawing were given to him poorly. It is also known that he entered the ETH Zurich not the first time. This is true, but only his grades in botany and French let him down. But he passed the exam in mathematics so brilliantly that the director of this institute personally gave him recommendations on further admission.
2. Question everything
Einstein did not recognize authority on the basis of social position since school. Albert was a believer until the age of 12, but then he became interested in books and began to question both religion and any foundations of society. He hated to blindly obey the rules and cramming subjects uninteresting to him.
He compared teachers with the military and hated the militaristic approach that prevailed at that time in everything. Einstein did nothing wrong, but his stubbornness and rebellious spirit undermined the authority of the teachers. Until the end of his life, he remained a skeptic and questioned any theories and authorities that seemed unconvincing to him.
Seasickness is caused by people, not the sea. But, I'm afraid, science has not yet found a cure for this disease.
Albert Einstein
3. Read a lot
Einstein loved books since childhood. While still a schoolboy, he read Euclid's Inception and Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. These works greatly influenced his perception of life.
At the university, Albert skipped uninteresting lectures, and instead studied journals with scientific research. His interests were not limited to physics and mathematics: he was fond of psychology, read the classics and even esotericism.
Here are some of his favorite books: Don Quixote by Cervantes, Treatise on Human Nature by Hume, Isis Unveiled by Blavatsky, The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. Albert also loved the entertainment genre. For example, he adored the humorous stories of the columnist Kovner and always looked forward to their publication in the newspaper.
4. Admit your mistakes
Einstein was not afraid: in them he saw steps on the path to truth. If he was wrong about other people's work, it was easy for him to apologize publicly. He once criticized an article on the expansion of the universe by the Russian mathematician Alexander Fridman. Einstein later realized he was wrong and wrote an apology paper.
At the same time, Einstein's model of the Universe underwent significant changes, which played an important role for science.
In this, the scientist was absolutely right: if you want to know the truth, your personal ambitions must be relegated to the background.
5. Believe in yourself
The scientist was well aware of how talented he was, and had adequate self-esteem. He worked hard and was confident in his own success. When he divorced his first wife, he promised to pay her a certain amount of money after receiving a Nobel Prize in the future. Three years later, he really received the Nobel Prize, although not in the area in which he had planned. Part of the amount (32 thousand dollars), he, as promised, gave his ex-wife.
6. Help others
Albert Einstein was a famous philanthropist. Already being famous, he sold his autographs, and gave the proceeds to donations.
The scientist also played the violin well and occasionally performed at concerts, including charitable ones. The most famous is a charity concert in favor of emigrants from Nazi Germany. He played at that time truly masterly, and the rumor about his performance went on for a long time.
7. Enjoy life
Einstein liked to joke and ignored trouble. All relatives and colleagues of the scientist noted his optimism and love of life. Most of Einstein's quotes shine with irony and a wonderful sense of humor. The scientist's most famous photograph, the one with his tongue hanging out, is also one of his spontaneous pranks. So he "smiled" at the camera to one of the famous photographers at the party.
When you are courting a beautiful girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a hot stove, a second feels like an hour. This is relativity.
Albert Einstein
8. Wish for world peace
Einstein actively opposed Nazism, war and any suppression of individual freedom. He once said that even if 2% of young people in the US refuse to serve in the army, the government will not be able to do anything about it, as the prisons will simply overflow. These words contributed to the flourishing of the anti-war movement in America. Adherents of this idea wore badges with the inscription "2%" until the 70s.
And the biggest mistake of his life, Einstein considered his involvement in the creation of a nuclear bomb: he regretted this until the end of his days.
9. Be humble
Einstein was modest both at home and in society. The great scientist became one of the first harbingers in clothing. He did this, of course, not for the sake of fashion, but in the name of convenience. There were no extra accessories in his wardrobe, such as ties, scarves and even socks. Yes, he didn't wear socks!
Everything superfluous, interfering with work, was alien to him. The scientist did not need a special office either. When asked where his laboratory was located, he showed a fountain pen with a smile.
Strive not to succeed, but to ensure that your life has meaning.
Albert Einstein
10. Develop imagination
The great scientist greatly appreciated imagination and a non-standard approach to any task. Once in Japan, he had no money to tip a courier, and instead Einstein wrote him a recipe for happiness. At that moment, Albert already knew that he would soon receive the Nobel Prize, and probably believed that later the courier would be able to sell this note.
This note was indeed sold just a year ago, in 2017, by the courier's nephew for $1.56 million. Here is what it said:
A quiet and modest life will bring more happiness than the pursuit of success and the constant anxiety that accompanies it.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in the city of Ulm, in southern Germany. His parents, Herman and Paulina Einstein, had their own business, which brought in a stable but small income. When little Albert was only a year old, the family moved to Munich, the reason for the move was the founding of a small company for the sale of electrical equipment, which his father, Hermann Einstein, founded together with his brother Jakob. Here, in Munich, the younger sister of the great scientist, Maria, was born.
Attending a Catholic school, Albert from an early age was interested in a variety of areas in science, and the boy also studied religion. However, already at the age of 12, having read many educational books (which were far from being for children), the future scientist came to the conclusion that the Bible is not a source, much less a guarantor of absolute righteousness. Moreover, Albert, who decided for himself that the Bible is just a way for the state to influence young minds, once and for all revised his views on this issue.
Around the same age, Einstein first read Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, and also thoroughly studied Euclidean geometry, with only books and a huge thirst for knowledge at his disposal.
It cannot be said that learning was easy for Einstein, although he was always one of the first. While still a student at the gymnasium, Einstein was aware of the problems of the existing education system: memorization of material, authoritarian treatment of teachers with students, and as a result, constant disputes with teachers. Albert never received his graduation document, despite the fact that he even had to stay with relatives, while the whole family moved to an Italian town, due to the transfer of his father's company.
Then there was the Swiss Polytechnic, which did not submit to him the first time. Einstein passed the exams in physics with excellent marks, while failing a number of other subjects. Having seen a promising student in the young man, the director of the university advised him to still get a secondary education in one of the schools in Switzerland for further study at the institute. Heeding the advice of an experienced, Einstein entered the school and, having received a certificate, became a student at the Polytechnic.
Albert Einstein in 1893, at the age of 14.
Graduation from the university and the beginning of scientific activity
Just as in school, the intelligent, well-read and gifted Einstein was completely incomprehensible and unacceptable to the teaching methods of professors in a higher educational institution. However, the young man decided not to repeat school mistakes and nevertheless received a diploma in acquiring a degree in 1900. Having passed the exams well, Einstein, however, did not find support among the luminaries of science - no one wanted to help pave the way for the future of a young and daring scientist. This period in Einstein's life becomes a real test - he cannot find a job, there is a catastrophic lack of money, and no one is interested in his works. It got to the point where he just didn't have anything to eat. Subsequently, this affected his health - Einstein developed a chronic liver disease that tormented him for the rest of his life.
But the scientist did not despair, continuing to persevere in physics. Luck came to him in the person of a former classmate, who helped the scientist find a job. However, he had to work not in his specialty - Einstein was to take the position of an evaluator in the Federal Bureau of Patenting Inventions. He devoted himself to this place for seven whole years - from 1902 to 1907, while not forgetting for a second about physics. Fortunately, his work schedule allowed him to devote a sufficient amount of time to scientific research.
In 1905, the general public learned about Einstein. The profile German journal "Annals of Physics" published three works of the scientist at once:
- "On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Origin and Transmutation of Light". One of the fundamental works on which the science of “quantum theory” was subsequently built;
- "On the Motion of Particles Suspended in a Fluid at Rest Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat". The work is devoted to Brownian motion and is a significant contribution to the advancement of statistical physics;
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies". Today it is generally accepted that it was this article that formed the basis of the doctrine called "the theory of relativity."
A non-standard view of the structure of theories
Einstein's research work was not perceived by his colleagues for a long time. The thing is, they just didn't get it. Having a rather specific view on the creation of theories, he was sure that experience is the only source of knowledge, while theory is an intuitive creation of the human mind, and therefore there are not so many grounds for linking an experiment with a theoretical basis. However, there were those who supported the scientist in his activities. Among them was Max Planck, with the help of which Einstein later managed to become director of the Berlin Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics.
General relativity, eclipse and world recognition
Work on the theory of gravitation was long and painstaking and lasted from 1907 to 1915. Einstein worked on a new discovery based on the principles of the theory of relativity. The essence of the work was that the connection between the space-time geometry and the gravitational field is inseparable. According to Einstein, space-time in the presence of gravitating masses becomes non-Euclidean. The final result of the work - an equation that clearly demonstrates the essence of his theory - was presented in 1915 at a meeting of the Academy of Sciences (Berlin). The theory would later be recognized as the pinnacle of Albert Einstein's work.
However, there is still a lot of time before this event, and at the time of the publicity of the GTR, few people are interested in it. The turning point in the life of the scientist was 1919, when by observation it was possible to verify one of the aspects of the theory, in which it was stated that a beam of light from a distant star is bent by the gravitational field of the Sun. In order to empirically test the theory, a total solar eclipse was needed, and it was precisely this that was observed in the 19th year of the twentieth century, in three parts of the globe. Enlisting the support of astrophysicist Arthur Eddington, the expedition led by Einstein obtained information confirming the general theory of relativity. So Albert Einstein was first recognized by the scientific community around the world.
Albert did not want to stop there, working hard on new research and it bore fruit. Already in 1921, Einstein received the Nobel Prize for quantum theory, became an honorary member of many scientific academies, and his opinion instantly turned from "non-standard" to "authoritative". Participating in various world conferences, he discussed with the leading scientists of that time, and their passionate debates were a significant contribution to the advancement of science more than one step forward. One of the most famous dialogues took place with Bohr, with whom they discussed the problems of quantum mechanics.
Life after general relativity
After the creation of general relativity, Einstein, inspired by success and believing in his strength, wants to confirm this with the next, even more grandiose project - he plans to create a unified theory of all kinds of interactions. Even after immigrating to the United States, in connection with the rise of the Nazis, Albert continued to work on his idea. In parallel, the genius of physics taught at the Princeton Institute for Basic Research.
However, his grandiose theory was not destined to see the world. Due to the meager amount of information available before the war, the unrealistic efforts made by Einstein for more than a quarter of a century turned out to be in vain.
Personal life
The first wife of a genius was a girl with Serbian roots named Mileva Marich, who taught physics and mathematics. Their acquaintance happened during a joint work on the law of gravity. The woman bore Einstein three heirs. The couple divorced after Marich found out about her husband's secret correspondence with his cousin Elsa Leventhal, who later became his second legal wife. In the second marriage, Einstein, who lost his own children (Maric took them with her to Zurich), raised Elsa's children from her first marriage; The spouses did not have common children.
Awards
Among Einstein's awards are the medals of Barnard, Matteucci, Copley and others. Also, Albert Einstein is officially an honorary citizen of American New York and Israeli Tel Aviv.
“Man begins to live only when
when he manages to surpass himself"
Albert Einstein is a well-known physicist, the creator of the theory of relativity, the author of numerous works on quantum physics, one of the creators of the modern stage in the development of this science.
The future Nobel laureate was born on March 15, 1879 in the small German town of Ulm. The family came from an ancient Jewish family. Papa Herman was the owner of a company that stuffed mattresses and pillows with feathers. Einstein's mother was the daughter of a famous maize seller. In 1880, the family went to Munich, where Hermann, together with his brother Jakob, created a small business selling electrical equipment. After some time, the Einsteins have a daughter, Maria.
In Munich, Albert Einstein goes to a Catholic school. As the scientist recalled, at the age of 13 he stopped trusting the beliefs of religious fanatics. Having joined science, he began to look at the world differently. Everything that was said in the Bible now did not seem plausible to him. All this formed in him a person who is skeptical of everything, especially authorities. From childhood, Albert Einstein's most vivid impressions were Euclid's book "Elements" and the compass. At the request of his mother, little Albert began to get involved in playing the violin. The craving for music for a long time settled in the heart of the scientist. In the future, while in the States, Albert Einstein gave a concert to all emigrants from Germany, performing Mozart's compositions on the violin.
While studying at the gymnasium, Einstein was not an excellent student (except in mathematics). He did not like the method of memorizing the material, as well as the attitude of teachers towards students. Therefore, he often argued with teachers.
In 1894 the family moved again. This time to Pavia, a small town near Milan. This is where the Einstein brothers move their production.
In the autumn of 1895, the young genius comes to Switzerland to enter the school. He dreamed of teaching physics. He passes the exam in mathematics perfectly, but the future scientist fails the tests in botany. Then the director suggested to the young guy to take the exam in Aarau in order to re-enter a year later.
In the Arau school, Albert Einstein actively studied Maxwell's electromagnetic theory. In September 1897, he successfully passed the exams. Having a certificate in hand, he entered Zurich, where he soon met the mathematician Grossman and Mileva Marich, who would later become his wife. After a certain time, Albert Einstein renounces German citizenship and takes Swiss citizenship. However, for this it was necessary to pay 1000 francs. But there was no money, as the family was in a difficult financial situation. Albert Einstein's relatives move to Milan after going bankrupt. In the same place, Albert's father again creates a company selling electrical equipment, but without his brother.
Einstein liked the teaching style at the Polytechnic, because there was no authoritarian attitude of teachers. The young scientist felt better. The learning process was exciting also because the lectures were given by such geniuses as Adolf Hurwitz and Hermann Minkowski.
Science in Einstein's life
In 1900, Albert completed his studies in Zurich and received a diploma. This gave him the right to teach physics and mathematics. The teachers assessed the knowledge of the young scientist at a high level, but did not want to provide assistance in a future career. The following year, he receives Swiss citizenship, but he still cannot find a job. There were part-time jobs in schools, but this was not enough for life. Einstein starved for days, which caused a liver disorder. Despite all the difficulties, Albert Einstein tried to devote more time to science. In 1901, a Berlin journal published a paper on the theory of capillarity, where Einstein analyzed the forces of attraction in the atoms of a liquid.
Fellow student Grossman helps Einstein and gets him a job at the patent office. Albert Einstein has been working here for 7 years evaluating patent applications. In 1903 he worked in the Bureau on a full-time basis. The nature and style of work allowed the scientist to study problems related to physics in his spare time.
In 1903, Einstein received a letter from Milan stating that his father was dying. Hermann Einstein passed away after the son arrived.
On January 7, 1903, the young scientist marries his friend from the Polytechnic, Mileva Marich. Later, from his marriage with her, Albert has three children.
Einstein's discoveries
In 1905, Einstein's work on the Brownian motion of particles was published. The work of the Englishman Brown already had an explanation. Einstein, having not encountered the works of the scientist before, gave his theory a certain completeness and the possibility of conducting experiments. In 1908, the experiments of the Frenchman Perrin confirmed Einstein's theory.
In 1905, another work of the scientist was published, devoted to the formation and transformation of light. In 1900, Max Planck had already shown that the spectral content of radiation could be explained by considering the radiation to be continuous. According to him, the light was emitted in portions. Einstein put forward the theory that light is absorbed by parts and consists of quanta. Such an assumption allowed the scientist to explain the reality of the "red border" (the limiting frequency, below which the electrons are not knocked out of the body).
The scientist also applied the quantum theory to other phenomena that the classics could not consider in detail.
In 1921 he was awarded the title of Nobel laureate.
Theory of relativity
Despite the many articles written, the scientist gained worldwide fame thanks to his theory of relativity, which he first voiced in 1905 in one bulletin. Even in his youth, the scientist thought about what would appear before an observer who would follow the light wave at the speed of light. He did not accept the concept of ether.
Albert Einstein suggested that for any object, no matter how it moves, the speed of light is the same. The scientist's theory is comparable to Lorentz's formulas for transforming time. However, Lorentz's transformations were indirect, having no connection with time.
Professorship
At 28, Einstein was extremely popular. In 1909 he became a professor at the Zurich Polytechnic, later at a university in the Czech Republic. After a certain time, he nevertheless returned to Zurich, but after 2 years he accepted an offer to become director of the Department of Physics in Berlin. Einstein's citizenship was restored. Work on the theory of relativity lasted for many years, and already with the participation of Comrade Grossman, outlines of the draft theory came out. The final version was formulated in 1915. It was the greatest achievement in the field of physics in recent decades.
Einstein was able to answer the question of what mechanism contributes to the gravitational interaction between objects. The scientist suggested that the structure of space could act as such an object. Albert Einstein thought that any body contributes to the curvature of space, making it different, and the other body in relation to the given one moves in the same space and is influenced by the first body.
The theory of relativity gave impetus to the development of other theories, which were later confirmed.
American period of the life of a scientist
In America, he became a professor at Princeton University, continuing to develop a field theory that would unify gravity and electromagnetism.
At Princeton, Professor Einstein was a real celebrity. But the people saw him as a good-natured, modest, strange person. His passion for music has not faded. He often performed in an ensemble of physicists. The scientist was also fond of sailing, saying that it helps to reflect on the problems of the universe.
He was one of the main ideologists of the formation of the State of Israel. In addition, Einstein was invited to the presidency of this country, but he refused.
The main tragedy of the scientist's life was the idea of the atomic bomb. Watching the growing power of the German state, he sent a letter to the US Congress in 1939, which prompted the development and creation of weapons of mass destruction. Albert Einstein later regretted this, but it was too late.
In 1955, at Princeton, the great naturalist died of an aortic aneurysm. But for a long time, many will remember his quotes, which have become truly great. He said that one should not lose faith in humanity, since we ourselves are people. The biography of the scientist is undoubtedly very fascinating, but it is the quotes written by him that help to delve into his life and work, which play the role of a preface in the "book about the life of a great man."
Some wisdom from Albert Einstein
At the heart of every difficulty lies an opportunity.
Logic can take you from point A to point B, and imagination can take you anywhere...
Outstanding personalities are formed not through beautiful speeches, but by their own work and its results.
If you live as if nothing in this world is a miracle, then you can do whatever you want and you will not have obstacles. If you live as if everything is a miracle, then you will be able to enjoy even the smallest manifestations of beauty in this world. If you live in two ways at the same time, then your life will be happy and productive.
