Albert Einstein is a hallmark of the field of science, but who exactly was he?
While Einstein is famously known to be a Nobel Prize winner and the proponent of the famous E=mc^2 equation, there is a lot more to him that several people are unaware of.
Fun Facts About Albert Einstein
His Lifelong Fascination With Physics
Starting at the young age of five, Albert Einstein found interest in the invisible forces that moved his compass' needles. This observation and interest is what prompted the brilliant scientists to embark on a lifelong journey to explain these hidden forces.
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He Learned Geometry Independently at 12 Years of Age
To learn about geometry, he read from a textbook. He dubbed this book the "holy geometry book" and his "second miracle." The first miracle was his compass needle.
His Teachers Did Not Like Him That Much
Einstein was not well-loved during his academic journey. In fact, one of his instructors in Luitpold-Gymnasium told the young man that he would not see anything good in his life. The Luitpold-Gymnasium was where Einstein underwent most of his early education.
He Played Violin
The scientist apparently had a musical side. Back when he was still five years old, his mother made him take violin lessons.
While he initially did not enjoy playing violin, he ended up developing a love for the hobby after he discovered Mozart.
He Made His First Scientific Paper at 16 Years of Age
Einstein's first scientific paper dates back to when he was still 16 years old. Entitled "On the Investigation of the State of the Ether in a Magnetic Field," his essay questioned how magnetic fields affect ether, which is a theoretical substance that was thought to release electromagnetic waves back then.
He Was Rejected From All Academic Positions He Applied To
After Einstein finished university studies, he ended up settling for a job that involved evaluating patent claims for the Swiss government. He said that this job was a salvation of some sort, as it gave him the energy and time to focus on physics mechanisms that underlie the whole world.
He Was a Pacifist
When he was just 16 years old, Einstein left Germany in order to escape military service. He became one of the only four intellectuals in Germany who openly declared their opposition to Germany's participation in the first World War.
He Was a Friend of Charlie Chaplin
Along with his wife, Einstein was invited by Chaplin to be the latter's guest of honor during the premiere of the 1931 "City Lights" film. Back then, Chaplin told Einstein that while people applauded Chaplin because they could understand him, people applauded Einstein because no one could ever get him.
He Believed in God
While Einstein believed in God, He did not believe in a personal deity who could answer prayers. Rather, he believed that God showed himself through the universe's harmony.
He Was a Nazi Target
The Nazis held book burnings and conferences against Einstein. They even labeled Einstein's teachings as "Jewish physics."
Einstein eventually fled Germany in 1933 in order to escape death threats from the Nazis. He first settled in Britain and eventually went to Princeton.
He warned President Franklin Roosevelt Regarding Nuclear Weapon Research When WWII Started
Einstein apparently urged President Roosevelt to initiate the development of the atomic bomb. However, he regretted doing so later on.
He shared that if he knew that Germans would not succeed with atomic bomb development, he would not have done anything.
Other Fun Facts About Einstein
Einstein was also a member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). There was also a 1,400-page dossier about him that the FBI kept.
Interestingly, Einstein was also asked to be Israel's president, though he was already nearing the end of his life when he was offered the position.
Einstein also did not believe in the possible existence of black holes, though he did believe in wormhole possibilities.
He also disliked socks to the point where he did not wear them.
Einstein's brain was also stolen and found to have an extra fold.
He also loved to sail and was born on Pi Day.
Albert Einstein's Scientific Contributions
Einstein is known for his famous theory of gravity, which suggests that the mass and energy of an object become infinite if this object nears life speed.
He also argued about the interwoven nature of time and space. His theory showed that the two metrics shrink and grow relative to one another.
He was also the Nobel Prize winner for his photoelectric effect explanation, which refers to the observation that metal plates release electrons when they are hit by high-energy light beams.
This special theory of relativity also essentially transformed how physicists saw light. His theories also changed views regarding the supposed static nature of the universe.
Einstein also helped in convincing the world of the existence of atoms. His work on the E=mc2 equation also enabled atomic bomb developments. However, he later opposed atomic weapon usage.
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