Albert Einstein

A Journey Through Genius and Grit

Welcome, Curious minds!

In today’s post, we will not be talking about a physics concept but rather a personality that has changed the world forever. He is the person that comes to most people’s minds when they think of the word scientist. He is the person of the century, the person who changed science and the world forever: Albert Einstein. This post is a tribute to him as today is the day that this legend was born, March 14. Anyway, this post is for you to learn about Einstein in greater depth than you already know. It is to know more about him than just e=mc^2 because this man did so much more. It is to learn more about him as a person, and his struggles, and perhaps even get motivated because when it comes to Einstein, success didn’t just come to him; he worked for it, he failed, yes, but never gave up. Perhaps this is the lesson you can take away from this post.

Before I start, I would also like to mention that it is also Pi Day. Pi day is celebrated on 14th March as 3, 1, and 4 are the first three numbers of Pi.

To start, let’s talk about the type of family Einstein was born into. His father and uncle were entrepreneurs in Munich. They set up an electro-technological company that specialized in incandescent lighting, so they were pretty up-to-date when it came to technology. Einstein was born in 1879 in Ulm. He was the first child of Hermann and Pauline.

Einstein did not like the German educational system as it was hierarchical. In 1896, he enrolled in the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich. He did not get in on his first try, so he took a year to learn in another school before he applied again and got in to study physics. During his time there, he thought that the physics professor Weber was outdated when it came to the latest physics research. Einstein used to call him Herr Weber instead of Herr Professor Weber, which the professor thought was disrespectful. Einstein graduated in 1900; his grades weren’t the best, but he passed. The reason for those grades was that Einstein did not take lectures and relied on his friends for notes. During his time here, he also met his future wife Mileva, who came to study medicine but then switched to physics; that’s when they met. Mileva, however, was not able to graduate.

After graduating, Einstein wanted to become a physics assistant, but because of his not-so-good relationship with the professor over at his uni, he was not offered the job and also did not get a job anywhere else. On top of all this, his father's company wasn't in the best position as they lost a major contract. His family also didn't approve of Milevla as she was not considered attractive and was Siberian.

Luckily, one of Einstein’s Friends, Marcel Grossman, came to his rescue, as his father knew the head of the Swiss patent office. There was a delay in getting those jobs; during that time, Einstein and Mileva found out that they were expecting a baby. In 1902, Einstein and his friends started a club of sorts called the Olympia Academy where they discussed books on physics and philosophy. Einstein’s daughter, Lieserl, was born; unfortunately, we do not know exactly what happened to her. Some say she died at an early age, while others say she was adopted by Mileva’s friends.

Then comes 1905, also known as Annus Mirabilis or the miracle year. In this year, Einstein was able to publish five papers, from which even one of them could set his career in physics:

1. March - He published a paper on light quantum.

2. April - He published a paper on the size of molecules, which came to be one of the most cited papers of that time.

3. May - Proved the existence of atoms using Brownian motion.

4. June - Published a paper on electrodynamics of moving bodies (special theory of relativity).

5. September - This was the paper in which was the world's most famous equation E=mc^2.

In closing, Albert Einstein's life and contributions stand as a testament to the power of perseverance, intellect, and the pursuit of knowledge. Beyond his revolutionary scientific discoveries, Einstein's journey underscores the importance of resilience in the face of adversity and the profound impact that one individual can have on the course of human history. As we celebrate his legacy, let us not only remember his equations and theories but also his indomitable spirit, which continues to inspire generations to reach for the stars and unlock the mysteries of the universe.

Quote of the Week: When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come close to the conclusion that the gift of imagination has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing absolute knowledge

Albert Einstein

Keep dancing through the cosmos of knowledge! Until next time, stay curious.