Early Life and Education

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg, Germany. His parents, Hermann Einstein and Pauline Koch, were secular Ashkenazi Jews. In 1880, the family moved to Munich, where Hermann and his brother founded an electrical equipment manufacturing company. Einstein attended a Catholic elementary school and later the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich. In 1894, the family relocated to Milan, Italy, due to business difficulties, while Einstein remained in Munich to complete his education. He eventually joined his family in Italy and later enrolled at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich, graduating in 1900 with a diploma in physics and mathematics. (britannica.com)

Annus Mirabilis Papers

In 1905, often referred to as Einstein's "annus mirabilis" or "miracle year," he published four groundbreaking papers in the journal Annalen der Physik:

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   Photoelectric Effect: Demonstrated that light could be understood as both a wave and a particle, introducing the concept of light quanta (photons). This work earned him the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. (britannica.com)

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   Brownian Motion: Provided empirical evidence for the existence of atoms by explaining the erratic movement of particles suspended in a fluid. (britannica.com)

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   Special Theory of Relativity: Established that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames and that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant, leading to the famous equation E=mc². (britannica.com)

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   Mass-Energy Equivalence: Introduced the principle that mass and energy are interchangeable, encapsulated in the equation E=mc². (britannica.com)

General Theory of Relativity

In 1915, Einstein presented the General Theory of Relativity, which extended his Special Theory to include acceleration and gravity. This theory proposed that massive objects cause a distortion in space-time, which is felt as gravity. The theory was confirmed in 1919 when observations during a solar eclipse showed the bending of starlight around the sun, as predicted by Einstein. (britannica.com)

Later Years and Legacy

Einstein emigrated to the United States in 1933, accepting a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He became a U.S. citizen in 1940. During World War II, he signed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, alerting him to the potential development of "extremely powerful bombs of a new type" and recommending that the U.S. engage in similar research, which led to the Manhattan Project. After the war, Einstein became an advocate for nuclear disarmament and civil rights. He passed away on April 18, 1955, in Princeton. (britannica.com)

Scientific Contributions

Beyond relativity, Einstein made significant contributions to various areas of physics:

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  Bose-Einstein Statistics: Collaborated with physicist Satyendra Nath Bose to develop a statistical model describing the behavior of indistinguishable particles, leading to the prediction of Bose-Einstein condensates. (britannica.com)

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  Einstein Refrigerator: Co-invented an absorption refrigerator with former student Leó Szilárd in 1926, which operated without moving parts or electricity. (britannica.com)

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  EPR Paradox: Co-authored a paper with Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen in 1935, challenging the completeness of quantum mechanics and introducing the concept of "spooky action at a distance." (britannica.com)

Personal Life

Einstein married Mileva Marić in 1903, with whom he had two sons, Hans Albert and Eduard. The couple divorced in 1919, and Einstein married his cousin Elsa Löwenthal later that year. He was known for his pacifist and humanitarian views, advocating for civil rights and Zionism. (britannica.com)

Honors and Legacy

Einstein received numerous awards and honors, including the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. The element einsteinium was named in his honor. His intellectual achievements and unique persona have made the name "Einstein" synonymous with genius. (britannica.com)