ALBERT EINSTEIN

Albert Einstein – Biography

Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) was a German‑born theoretical physicist who reshaped our understanding of the universe. Best known for the *theory of relativity*, he earned the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for explaining the *photoelectric effect*, a cornerstone of quantum theory. His work laid the foundation for modern physics and influenced philosophy, technology, and culture far beyond his lifetime.

Early Life & Education
- *Born 14 March 1879* in *Ulm, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire*.
- Family: *Hermann Einstein (father, merchant)*, *Pauline Koch (mother)*.
- 1880: Family moved to *Munich*. As a child, he was curious but struggled in the rigid school system; he left the *Luitpold Gymnasium* at 15 after a disagreement with a teacher.
- 1895: Failed entrance exam to *Swiss Federal Polytechnic (ETH Zurich)*; later enrolled after completing a preparatory school in Aarau, Switzerland.
- 1900: Graduated with a diploma in physics and mathematics.

Miracle Year (1905 – _Annus Mirabilis_)
While working as a *patent clerk (III class)* at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern, Einstein published four groundbreaking papers:

1. *Photoelectric Effect* – Light as quanta (photons); later earned the Nobel Prize (1921).
2. *Brownian Motion* – Evidence for atoms and molecules.
3. *Special Theory of Relativity* – Introduced *E = mc²*, redefining space, time, and simultaneity.
4. *Mass‑Energy Equivalence* – Extension of the previous paper.

Academic Career & General Relativity
- 1909: First academic post, University of Zurich.
- 1914: Moved to *Berlin*, joining the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
- 1915: Completed *General Theory of Relativity*, describing gravity as curvature of spacetime.
- 1919: *Eddington’s eclipse expedition* confirmed light bending, catapulting Einstein to worldwide fame.

Nobel Prize & Later Life
- *1921 Nobel Prize in Physics* (received 1922) for the photoelectric effect.
- 1933: Fleeing Nazi Germany (Hitler’s rise), he settled in the *United States*, joining *Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton*.
- 1939: Warned President *F. D. Roosevelt* about possible Nazi atomic bomb, prompting the Manhattan Project.
- 1945: *Signed Russell–Einstein Manifesto*, warning of nuclear weapons dangers.
- *Died 18 April 1955*, Princeton, New Jersey. His brain was preserved for scientific study (controversial).

Core Contributions (Brief)
- *Special Relativity (1905)* – Lorentz transformations, constancy of light speed.
- *General Relativity (1915)* – Field equations, prediction of black holes, gravitational waves (later detected 2015).
- *Quantum Theory* – Photon concept, stimulated emission (basis for lasers).
- *Cosmology* – Einstein–de Sitter model, cosmological constant (Λ).

Personality & Views
- *Pacifist*, anti‑war advocate (though warned about Nazi atomic threat).
- *Civil rights supporter* (friend of *Martin Luther King Jr.*).
- *Violinist*, loved sailing, simplicity, and questioning authority.
- *Philosophical outlook*: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Legacy
Einstein’s name became synonymous with *genius*. Elements of his theories underpin *GPS*, *nuclear energy*, and *modern astrophysics*. The *Einstein Papers Project* preserves his letters and manuscripts. He remains a cultural icon of scientific curiosity and humanitarian values.

*≈ 510 words*

Sources: Nobel Prize archives, _Collected Papers of Albert Einstein_, Wikipedia.