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
- Attended primary and secondary school in Munich, Germany.
- Renounced German citizenship at age 16.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1900.
- Obtained a PhD from the University of Zurich in 1905.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a patent examiner in Bern, Switzerland (1902-1909).
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, often referred to as his "Annus Mirabilis" (miracle year).
- Developed the theory of relativity (special relativity in 1905 and general relativity in 1915).
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Became Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin (1914-1933).
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933 and became 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 and urging the U.S. to initiate its own research.
Notable Works
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) – introduced special relativity.
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) – introduced the mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²).
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916) – introduced general relativity.
- Numerous scientific papers and books on various aspects of physics and philosophy.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and one of the greatest physicists of all time. His theories of relativity revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. His work also had a profound impact on the development of modern technology, including nuclear energy and the atomic bomb. The enduring legacy of Albert Einstein is undeniable, and as noted in any comprehensive biographical analysis, even within a 'khambrel marshall biography of albert', his ideas continue to shape scientific thought and technological advancements to this day.