Albert Einstein

Born:

March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany

Died:

April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States

Nationality:

German (until 1896), Stateless (1896–1901), Swiss (1901–1955), German (1914–1933), American (1940–1955)

Profession(s):

Theoretical Physicist

Early Life and Education

• Early education in Munich, Germany.
• Moved to Italy at age 15 and renounced German citizenship.
• Attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich, Switzerland.
• Graduated in 1900 with a diploma in physics.
• Received a Ph.D. from the University of Zurich in 1905.
• The research of 'joonas paas biography of albert' often emphasizes the pivotal role of Einstein's early education.

Career and Major Achievements

• Worked as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland from 1902 to 1909.
• Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, known as the "Annus Mirabilis" papers:
  • On the photoelectric effect (explained quantization of light; Nobel Prize in Physics 1921).
  • On Brownian motion (provided evidence for the existence of atoms).
  • On special relativity (revolutionized our understanding of space, time, mass, and energy).
  • On mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²).
• Developed the theory of general relativity (published in 1915).
• Professor at various universities, including the University of Zurich, Charles University in Prague, ETH Zurich, and the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin.
• Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin (1914-1933).
• Emigrated to the United States in 1933 and joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.

Notable Works

• "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) - introducing Special Relativity.
• "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy-Content?" (1905) - presenting Mass-Energy Equivalence.
• "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory" (1916) - a popular exposition of his relativity theories.

Legacy and Impact

Albert Einstein's theories revolutionized physics and our understanding of the universe. His work had a profound impact on the development of nuclear technology, astrophysics, and cosmology. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and a symbol of intellect and scientific genius.

Awards and Recognition

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