biography of albert einstein listening

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Albert Einstein

Pre-listening vocabulary

• influential: important and powerful; having influence
• fascinated: very interested in something
• introduce: to make something known for the first time
• achievement: something that is completed successfully
• target: a person that a certain group wants to attack
• physicist: a scientist that specializes in physics

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

Comprehension questions, discussion/essay questions.

• Some people wanted to use Einstein’s discoveries to develop weapons, such as the atomic bomb. What is your opinion on the use of new scientific discoveries to build stronger weapons?

Albert Einstein was one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century. He was born in Germany in 1879, and he began attending school in 1885. As Einstein got older, he became fascinated with the nature of light . He wrote his first scientific paper at the age of 16, and later went on to study physics at a university in Switzerland. In 1905, Einstein published four scientific papers. The papers introduced his theory of special relativity, which allowed scientists to better understand the connection between time and space. Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his achievements. In the 1930s, however, Einstein became a target of the Nazi Party of Germany. He moved to the U.S. to protect himself, and continued to work as a physicist. Einstein died in 1955, but his brain is still kept in the Princeton University Medical Center. Scientists still study it today.

48 comments

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I’M VIETNAMESE BUT I CAN HEAR ALSO THE LISTEN EXERCISE THANKS AND WISH YOU HAVE MORE IT SO I CAN PRACTISE MY ENGLISH

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I have two observations first Why you don’t date your articles like before January Second I suggest you to have all text in the window viewing including the bar listening It will be easier to listen all the text and fill the blanks without mooving anything Thank you A wink from France

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Good. But transcript is not exactly the same as the listening and gapfill isn’t complete.

Very simple and useful to both children and teachers

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Albert Einstein biography listening

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A listening comprehension about Albert Einstein

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Intermediate English Listening - Albert Einstein

This intermediate English lesson is about the Nobel Prize winning scientist Albert Einstein. You will learn some useful new vocabulary for talking about scientific subjects, and practise your listening skills .

Task 1 - Dictionary Skills Activity

Here are some of the words used in this lesson. How many of these words do you know?

Check the meaning of any words you don't know in the dictionary.

• prestigious

Task 2 - First Listening

Watch this short biographical clip about Albert Einstein. Don't try to understand everything.

Listen to get a general idea of what the video is about the first time you watch it.

When you have watched the video, scroll down the page to read the questions for Task 3 .

Task 3 - Listening Comprehension

Read through the quiz questions below, and then watch the video again to see if you can find the answers. Choose the answer you think is correct for each question.

There is only one right answer for each question.

Multiple Choice Quiz - Answers

  1) Albert Einstein was seventy-six years old when he died. The other statements are false.

  2) Physicist Stephen Hawking wrote the book "A Brief History of Time".

The other statements are true.

  3) The word concept has a similar meaning to the words idea, hypothesis and theory.

  4) The word adore has the opposite meaning to the words revile and abhor.

  5) The statement is false. He found the work very dull, and didn't enjoy it.

  6) The statement is true. He did obtain his doctorate in Physics from the University of Zurich.

Biography Online

Albert Einstein Biography

Einstein is also well known as an original free-thinker, speaking on a range of humanitarian and global issues. After contributing to the theoretical development of nuclear physics and encouraging F.D. Roosevelt to start the Manhattan Project, he later spoke out against the use of nuclear weapons.

Born in Germany to Jewish parents, Einstein settled in Switzerland and then, after Hitler’s rise to power, the United States. Einstein was a truly global man and one of the undisputed genius’ of the Twentieth Century.

Early life Albert Einstein

Einstein was born 14 March 1879, in Ulm the German Empire. His parents were working-class (salesman/engineer) and non-observant Jews. Aged 15, the family moved to Milan, Italy, where his father hoped Albert would become a mechanical engineer. However, despite Einstein’s intellect and thirst for knowledge, his early academic reports suggested anything but a glittering career in academia. His teachers found him dim and slow to learn. Part of the problem was that Albert expressed no interest in learning languages and the learning by rote that was popular at the time.

“School failed me, and I failed the school. It bored me. The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam.” Einstein and the Poet (1983)

At the age of 12, Einstein picked up a book on geometry and read it cover to cover. – He would later refer to it as his ‘holy booklet’. He became fascinated by maths and taught himself – becoming acquainted with the great scientific discoveries of the age.

Albert Einstein with wife Elsa

Despite Albert’s independent learning, he languished at school. Eventually, he was asked to leave by the authorities because his indifference was setting a bad example to other students.

He applied for admission to the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. His first attempt was a failure because he failed exams in botany, zoology and languages. However, he passed the next year and in 1900 became a Swiss citizen.

At college, he met a fellow student Mileva Maric, and after a long friendship, they married in 1903; they had two sons before divorcing several years later.

In 1896 Einstein renounced his German citizenship to avoid military conscription. For five years he was stateless, before successfully applying for Swiss citizenship in 1901. After graduating from Zurich college, he attempted to gain a teaching post but none was forthcoming; instead, he gained a job in the Swiss Patent Office.

While working at the Patent Office, Einstein continued his own scientific discoveries and began radical experiments to consider the nature of light and space.

Einstein in 1921

He published his first scientific paper in 1900, and by 1905 had completed his PhD entitled “ A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions . In addition to working on his PhD, Einstein also worked feverishly on other papers. In 1905, he published four pivotal scientific works, which would revolutionise modern physics. 1905 would later be referred to as his ‘ annus mirabilis .’

Einstein’s work started to gain recognition, and he was given a post at the University of Zurich (1909) and, in 1911, was offered the post of full-professor at the Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague (which was then part of Austria-Hungary Empire). He took Austrian-Hungary citizenship to accept the job. In 1914, he returned to Germany and was appointed a director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics. (1914–1932)

Albert Einstein’s Scientific Contributions

Quantum Theory

Einstein suggested that light doesn’t just travel as waves but as electric currents. This photoelectric effect could force metals to release a tiny stream of particles known as ‘quanta’. From this Quantum Theory, other inventors were able to develop devices such as television and movies. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.

Special Theory of Relativity

This theory was written in a simple style with no footnotes or academic references. The core of his theory of relativity is that:

“Movement can only be detected and measured as relative movement; the change of position of one body in respect to another.”

Thus there is no fixed absolute standard of comparison for judging the motion of the earth or plants. It was revolutionary because previously people had thought time and distance are absolutes. But, Einstein proved this not to be true.

He also said that if electrons travelled at close to the speed of light, their weight would increase.

This lead to Einstein’s famous equation:

Where E = energy m = mass and c = speed of light.

General Theory of Relativity 1916

Working from a basis of special relativity. Einstein sought to express all physical laws using equations based on mathematical equations.

He devoted the last period of his life trying to formulate a final unified field theory which included a rational explanation for electromagnetism. However, he was to be frustrated in searching for this final breakthrough theory.

Solar eclipse of 1919

In 1911, Einstein predicted the sun’s gravity would bend the light of another star. He based this on his new general theory of relativity. On 29 May 1919, during a solar eclipse, British astronomer and physicist Sir Arthur Eddington was able to confirm Einstein’s prediction. The news was published in newspapers around the world, and it made Einstein internationally known as a leading physicist. It was also symbolic of international co-operation between British and German scientists after the horrors of the First World War.

In the 1920s, Einstein travelled around the world – including the UK, US, Japan, Palestine and other countries. Einstein gave lectures to packed audiences and became an internationally recognised figure for his work on physics, but also his wider observations on world affairs.

Bohr-Einstein debates

During the 1920s, other scientists started developing the work of Einstein and coming to different conclusions on Quantum Physics. In 1925 and 1926, Einstein took part in debates with Max Born about the nature of relativity and quantum physics. Although the two disagreed on physics, they shared a mutual admiration.

As a German Jew, Einstein was threatened by the rise of the Nazi party. In 1933, when the Nazi’s seized power, they confiscated Einstein’s property, and later started burning his books. Einstein, then in England, took an offer to go to Princeton University in the US. He later wrote that he never had strong opinions about race and nationality but saw himself as a citizen of the world.

“I do not believe in race as such. Race is a fraud. All modern people are the conglomeration of so many ethnic mixtures that no pure race remains.”

Once in the US, Einstein dedicated himself to a strict discipline of academic study. He would spend no time on maintaining his dress and image. He considered these things ‘inessential’ and meant less time for his research. Einstein was notoriously absent-minded. In his youth, he once left his suitcase at a friends house. His friend’s parents told Einstein’s parents: “ That young man will never amount to anything, because he can’t remember anything.”

Although a bit of a loner, and happy in his own company, he had a good sense of humour. On January 3, 1943, Einstein received a letter from a girl who was having difficulties with mathematics in her studies. Einstein consoled her when he wrote in reply to her letter

“Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you that mine are still greater.”

Einstein professed belief in a God “Who reveals himself in the harmony of all being”. But, he followed no established religion. His view of God sought to establish a harmony between science and religion.

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”

– Einstein, Science and Religion (1941)

Politics of Einstein

Einstein described himself as a Zionist Socialist. He did support the state of Israel but became concerned about the narrow nationalism of the new state. In 1952, he was offered the position as President of Israel, but he declined saying he had:

“neither the natural ability nor the experience to deal with human beings.” … “I am deeply moved by the offer from our State of Israel, and at once saddened and ashamed that I cannot accept it.”

Einstein receiving US citizenship.

Albert Einstein was involved in many civil rights movements such as the American campaign to end lynching. He joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and  considered racism, America’s worst disease. But he also spoke highly of the meritocracy in American society and the value of being able to speak freely.

On the outbreak of war in 1939, Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt about the prospect of Germany developing an atomic bomb. He warned Roosevelt that the Germans were working on a bomb with a devastating potential. Roosevelt headed his advice and started the Manhattan project to develop the US atom bomb. But, after the war ended, Einstein reverted to his pacifist views. Einstein said after the war.

“Had I known that the Germans would not succeed in producing an atomic bomb, I would not have lifted a finger.” (Newsweek, 10 March 1947)

In the post-war McCarthyite era, Einstein was scrutinised closely for potential Communist links. He wrote an article in favour of socialism, “Why Socialism” (1949) He criticised Capitalism and suggested a democratic socialist alternative. He was also a strong critic of the arms race. Einstein remarked:

“I do not know how the third World War will be fought, but I can tell you what they will use in the Fourth—rocks!”

Rabindranath Tagore and Einstein

Einstein was feted as a scientist, but he was a polymath with interests in many fields. In particular, he loved music. He wrote that if he had not been a scientist, he would have been a musician. Einstein played the violin to a high standard.

“I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music… I get most joy in life out of music.”

Einstein died in 1955, at his request his brain and vital organs were removed for scientific study.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “ Biography of Albert Einstein ”, Oxford, www.biographyonline.net 23 Feb. 2008. Updated 2nd March 2017.

Albert Einstein – His Life and Universe

Albert Einstein – His Life at Amazon

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53 Interesting and unusual facts about Albert Einstein.

Albert Einstein

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LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)

Type of English: General English

Tags: Celebrities and historical figures science and technology war and peace the universe and space Vocabulary and grammar

Publication date: 01/15/2022

This audio-aided lesson tells the life story of the legendary physicist Albert Einstein. The lesson focuses on vocabulary, listening comprehension, and speaking and includes a short look at linking words that show contrast. The optional extension task is a mini marketing activity about how the name Einstein can be used to sell products.

by Stephanie Hirschman

Einstein_Bre.mp3

Thank you for sharing these lesson I liked the prediction point and the idea to reprder According to the listening activity. But it seems to me remembering the answers is quite a sort of evaluation and not a training task for a listening activity. 🤔

Thanks for sharing

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This audio-aided lesson tells the life story of the legendary physicist Albert Einstein. The lesson focuses on vocabulary, listening comprehension, and speaking and includes a short look at linking words that show contrast. The optional extension task is a mini marketing activity about how the name Einstein can be used to sell products.

Einstein_Ame.mp3

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Albert Einstein

• Occupation: Scientist and Inventor
• Born: March 14,1879 Ulm, in Germany
• Died: 18 April 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey
• Best known for: Theory of Relativity and E=mc2

• Albert experienced speech problems as a child. His parents were worried that he wasn't very smart!
• He failed his first try on his entrance exam for college (this gives us all hope!).
• He was offered the presidency of Israel .
• He auctioned off a hand written version of his Theory of Relativity in 1940 for 6 million dollars in order to help with the war effort.
• Albert had a sister named Maja.
• Listen to a recorded reading of this page:

Einstein: His Life and Universe

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Biography of Albert Einstein – Listening Test

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History allbert einstein: the gentle touch of genius.

In 1944, shortly before I came to Princeton as a photographer with the University, I was driving along Mercer Street at dusk when half-way down the block, at street level, I saw a bodiless head—just two arms out-stretched and a strangely familiar mop of shaggy white hair. Acting on professional instinct, I jumped out of the car, camera in hand, and snapped a picture. Only then did I hear the croaking sounds he was making, and see the strained expression on his face. I rushed over, grabbed him under the arms, and hauled out one of the greatest scientists the world has ever known. Albert Einstein had fallen down an open manhole.

Off and on for the next 11 years of our curious association, Professor Einstein reminded me of my promise about the manhole picture. It got to be a kind of joke between us; but I could never bring myself to tell him that the last laugh was on me. I was ashamed to—partly, I think, because of old Pow Edwards, a geometry teacher who had made me feel a hopeless failure when I was a schoolboy back in England. At my age, I didn’t want to be tagged a dunce all over again, and I was still leary of mathematicians.

I was appalled. This was to be an official birthday portrait. I wondered why, since he hadn’t done anything about the rest of his face, he had bothered to shave. I could hardly suggest that he spruce himself up for my camera, though on several occasions later I did try surreptitiously to brush his hair back behind his ears—accidentally, as it were, while arranging the lights behind his chair. But the unruly swatch always sprang forward again with a stubbornness of its own.

I gave up on his hair, but his feet continued to bother me. I am an Englishman by birth, with perhaps too rigid ideas about proper apparel—and Professor Einstein seldom wore socks. Though I tried taking all his pictures from the knees or waist up, it was difficult to keep my eyes off those bare ankles. I even considered sending him an anonymous gift of a pair of socks, thought that would have been not only insulting but useless.

Once when I brought him a dozen extra prints of a particularly good portrait to give to his friends, he flipped through them, then shoved the whole batch aside. “I hate my pictures,” he said. “Look at my face. If it wasn’t for this,” he added, clapping his hands over his mustache in mock despair, “I’d look like a vooman .”

On another occasion, when a young couple at whose wedding he had been best man brought their son—a little boy of 18 months—to meet him, the child took one look and burst into a screaming fit. The parents were speechless with embarrassment, but Einstein’s eyes lighted up. He smiled approvingly, patted the youngster on the top of his head, and crooned: “You’re the first person in years who has told me what you really think of me.”

I was convinced that it would be extremely difficult to keep the cooperation of a man with so little vanity. At the same time I kept expecting him to change into my private notion of the way a world genius should be—proud, brilliantly erudite, perhaps somewhat impatient with men of lesser intellect.

But he didn’t change. Instead, I think he changed me a little. Gradually I lost my awe of him. So much so that one day I blurted: “Professor Einstein, why don’t you wear socks?”

The way he said it—humorous, but sad too—made me realize that his sloppy sweat-shirt and uncombed hair and sockless shoes were somehow right for him. They truly reflected the humility of the man. If I’d taken his picture any other way I would have gotten my own image of how a great mathematician ought to look.

Thus Einstein taught me something about photography: that I must approach a subject with an open mind as well as an open shutter.

Besides humility, I began to sense another factor behind Einstein’s unkempt appearance: a profound simplicity that allowed him to ignore superficiality and go directly to the heart of things. Where most of us are like kites caught in the branches, entangled with our concerns for such things as comfort, success, the impression we are making on others, Einstein’s mind soared free. I doubt that he even knew what he ate. Certainly, he didn’t watch where he walked, of he wouldn’t have fallen down that manhole. Once when some company had sent him a very sizeable consulting fee, he used the check for a bookmark and lost the book.

I remember the afternoon that I watched helplessly as a newspaper photographer rudely backed him off the sidewalk and into the bushes, taking pictures and firing impertinent questions. When I told Einstein how mortified I was that any professional colleague of mine should behave that way he said, “Oh, I don’t pay any attention to those things. Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.”

Another time he was at his desk when I entered his study, feverishly jotting in his notebook, not even aware that there was a cut on his face and that two bright streams of blood were running down his check. I was so alarmed that I interrupted to suggest that he put on a bandage. He muttered, “It’s not a matter,” and went on writing.

What struck me was that he automatically ignored the trivial, whether it happened to be a stranger’s rudeness or a cut on the cheek. He simplified his concerns in order to spend his brain wisely. But it wasn’t just a matter of withdrawing, or being “absent-minded-professorish.” For this same uncluttered attitude allowed him to speak directly with unaffected kindness and respect to every human being he met, child or adult, ignoring externals.

One afternoon a little girl of about seven, who also lived on Mercer Street in Princeton, rang Dr. Einstein’s doorbell and asked to see him. Miss Dukas said it would be impossible to disturb the professor. Just then Einstein happened to come down the front stairs. When he asked the youngster what she wanted, she took a hand from behind her back and offered him a sticky square of fudge which she said she has made herself. Einstein thanked her and ate the candy, whereupon she pulled the other hand from behind her back, showed him her arithmetic homework, and asked for help. He took her on his knee, explained that he couldn’t help her, that it would be unfair both to her teacher and to herself. Then he sent her off with a few cookies, to balance the non-returnable candy gift.

The gentle touch of his genius quickened my own life as it must have that little girl’s, and so many others with whom he had even the slightest contact. It would be silly to claim that Einstein and I ever became friends. Now and then he would call me “Hans”—names, like appearances, were unimportant to him. But he always knew who I was, and sometimes he would stroke my arm, delighted to see me. I think he liked and trusted me. It made me feel almost protective about him; yet so direct and compassionate was his perception, I felt that he understood more about me than I did myself.

One morning in his study at the Institute for Advanced Study, after a tiring picture session, I caught sight of his blackboard, covered with little chalk hieroglyphs. I don’t know why, but for the first time the mathematical equations seemed to mock me. I stood glazing at them blankly, then the chalk marks went blurry and I shut my eyes. For that fraction of a second I was being kept after class and Pow Edwards was standing just behind me, glowering, knowing perfectly well I was stumped, all ready to call me stupid.

I shook my head and turned around. Instead of Pow Edwards, there was Albert Einstein, quietly watching me. “Professor,” I said, with an attempt at flipness, “You and I are opposite poles — you’re the world’s best mathematician, and I’m the world’s worst.”

What he said was not only intimate and kind, but so true that it was uncanny. For a moment I was stunned by the thought that this mathematical genius should be the only person who ever suggested that it might not have been my fault entirely; that I might not have been so stupid after all. Through the most direct kind of illumination, he had dispelled a dark cloud that had followed me for 30 years. And he hadn’t even called me by my right name.

It was then, I think, that I first made the connection between those equations on the blackboard and his several kinds of simplicity: the uncluttered quality of his vision; the directness of his perceptions; his disregard for appearances and material trivia. His famous Theory of Relativity, which altered all our ideas about the universe and led to the splitting of the atom, was a product of insight rather than of complex computation. He arrived at it almost completely by himself. He was not part of a collective laboratory effort. He had only his own mind, working with pencil and paper, chalk and blackboard, and humble patience, piercing through the surface incidentals to the underlying principles.

There is no record to show that he observed any particular liturgy or recognized any particular dogma, yet I too had the feeling that he was a devout man. “The Lord is sophisticated, but not malicious,” are words inscribed in German on the mantelpiece in one of the mathematical rooms in Princeton’s Fine Hall. Those were the words of Albert Einstein.

There were fewer people at his funeral than at his birth. The world of science and many laymen would have jammed the road to his place of the rest had there been such a spot. But his wish was granted—there is no cemetery, no shrine, no marker, no urn. Albert Einstein has only one monument—his work.

This was originally published in the March 17, 1964 issue of PAW.

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• Albert Einstein Biography

Directions for Albert Einstein’s Biography

Step 1: Listen to the Albert Einstein Biography  and take notes. Step 2: Read the biography if desired to check your notes or learn more. Step 3: Answer 10 questions and check your answers based on the biography. Step 4: Find the next biography to make practice more.

By following these steps, you can improve your English skills while learning about famous people’s biographies .

Step 1: Listen and take notes

Please push the play button on the audio player and listen to Albert Einstein’s Biography . When you listen to this audio please take notes on a piece of paper.

Step 2: Read Albert Einstein’s Biography

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany. His parents were Hermann and Pauline Einstein. He grew up in Munich and attended a Catholic elementary school from the age of five until he was ten years old. After leaving school, he taught himself mathematics and physics from several books he purchased with his own money. His parents were soon concerned about his lack of formal education, so they sent him to the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1896.

At the polytechnic, he studied mathematics, physics and philosophy. He completed his studies in 1900 and received a diploma as a teacher of mathematics and physics from the University of Zurich. During this period, Einstein developed his remarkable theories of relativity, which would revolutionize modern physics. However, he was unable to find employment teaching mathematics and physics, so he began working as a technical assistant at the Swiss Patent Office in 1902.

It was during this time that Einstein completed some of his most renowned scientific papers on the theory of relativity, Brownian motion and the photoelectric effect. His scientific papers were published in 1905 and he was awarded a PhD from the University of Zurich that same year. In 1909, Einstein became a full professor at the University of Zurich and two years later he accepted an offer to become a professor at the German Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague.

In 1914, Einstein accepted a request to take up a professorship at the University of Berlin, where he was appointed director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics. He remained in this post until 1933, when he left Germany as a result of his opposition to Nazi ideology and policies. In 1921, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on theoretical physics and the photoelectric effect.

Einstein’s work continued throughout his life and he remained active in the scientific community until his death on April 18, 1955 at the age of 76. His theories of relativity remain a cornerstone of modern physics and have profoundly shaped our understanding of the universe. To this day, Einstein is considered one of the most influential scientists in history. His theories and discoveries revolutionized our understanding of the universe, helped shape the development of modern technology and inspired generations of scientists to come. He is remembered as one of humanity’s greatest minds.

The Albert Einstein Archives at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem holds over 80,000 documents related to his life and work, making it one of the most important centers for research on Einstein and his sciences. In addition, many of his personal papers are housed in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., and in several museums around the world. His life and work continue to be studied by scholars from all over the world today, making him one of the most famous scientists ever to have lived. His legacy will remain a part of humanity’s history for years to come.

What were the major milestones in Albert Einstein’s academic life?

Albert Einstein’s academic life was marked by several significant milestones. One of the earliest milestones was his enrollment at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich, where he studied physics and mathematics. During his time there, he excelled in his studies and graduated in 1900.

Another important milestone in Einstein’s academic journey was his groundbreaking work in theoretical physics, particularly the development of the theory of relativity. His publication of the special theory of relativity in 1905 and the general theory of relativity in 1915 revolutionized the field of physics and brought him international acclaim.

In 1921, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, which laid the foundation for the field of quantum mechanics.

Einstein’s academic career also involved numerous academic appointments and positions. He held professorships at various institutions, including the University of Zurich, Charles University in Prague, and the University of Berlin. Additionally, he served as a visiting professor at institutions around the world, sharing his expertise and collaborating with fellow scientists.

Furthermore, Einstein’s academic life included significant contributions to the scientific community through his research papers, publications, and participation in scientific conferences and discussions. He played an active role in shaping the field of modern physics and mentoring future generations of scientists.

Overall, Albert Einstein’s academic life was characterized by remarkable achievements, groundbreaking theories, and a lasting impact on the field of physics. His work continues to inspire and influence scientists and researchers to this day.

What are the biggest inventions of Albert Einstein and why?

The term “inventions” may not be the most accurate way to describe Albert Einstein’s contributions, as he is best known for his groundbreaking theories and scientific discoveries rather than tangible inventions. However, there are several key concepts and theories associated with Einstein that have had a profound impact on science and society. Here are some of his most significant contributions:

• Theory of Relativity: Einstein’s theory of relativity, including the special theory of relativity (1905) and the general theory of relativity (1915), revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and gravity. These theories fundamentally changed our perception of the universe and laid the foundation for modern physics. The theory of relativity has been confirmed by numerous experiments and is a cornerstone of scientific knowledge.
• Photoelectric Effect: Einstein’s explanation of the photoelectric effect, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, demonstrated that light can behave as both a wave and a particle. This work contributed to the development of quantum mechanics and formed the basis for modern understanding of the interaction between light and matter.
• E = mc²: The famous equation E = mc², derived from Einstein’s theory of relativity, expresses the equivalence of mass and energy. This equation has had significant implications in nuclear physics and the development of atomic energy. It is the foundation of understanding the immense energy potential stored within matter.
• Brownian Motion: Einstein’s explanation of Brownian motion provided experimental evidence for the existence of atoms and molecules. His theoretical work on this phenomenon helped confirm the kinetic theory of gases and solidified the concept of atoms as building blocks of matter.
• Theoretical Physics Contributions: Einstein made numerous other contributions to theoretical physics, including his work on the quantization of light (which laid the foundation for the field of quantum mechanics), his investigations into the nature of space and time, and his exploration of the unified field theory. While some of these ideas were not fully realized during his lifetime, they inspired future generations of physicists and continue to influence scientific research.

In summary, Albert Einstein’s greatest contributions lie in his groundbreaking theories and concepts that revolutionized our understanding of physics and the universe. His theories of relativity, the photoelectric effect, and his work on atoms and energy have had far-reaching implications, shaping the course of modern science and technological advancements.

What was Albert Einstein’s biggest success in his life?

Albert Einstein achieved several significant successes throughout his life. Here are some of his notable accomplishments:

• Theory of Relativity: Einstein’s theory of relativity, particularly the development of the special theory of relativity in 1905 and the general theory of relativity in 1915, stands as one of his greatest successes. These theories revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and gravity, challenging long-held beliefs and paving the way for modern physics.
• Nobel Prize in Physics: In 1921, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, which demonstrated the particle-like nature of light and laid the groundwork for the field of quantum mechanics. The Nobel Prize recognized his significant contributions to the field of physics.
• Advancement of Scientific Knowledge: Einstein’s work and theories significantly advanced our understanding of the natural world. His research papers, publications, and intellectual contributions shaped the course of modern physics, inspiring future generations of scientists and expanding the frontiers of scientific knowledge.
• Influence on Modern Technology: Einstein’s theories and discoveries have had a profound impact on modern technology. For example, the theory of relativity plays a crucial role in the development of GPS (Global Positioning System) technology, which relies on precise measurements of time and space. His work also contributed to advancements in nuclear energy, leading to the development of nuclear power and nuclear weapons.
• Humanitarian and Social Activism: Einstein was an outspoken advocate for peace, civil rights, and international cooperation. His activism and advocacy for social justice issues made him an influential figure outside of the scientific community. He used his platform and influence to speak out against war, promote equality, and champion causes that he believed would lead to a better world.

These successes, both scientific and humanitarian, have left a lasting legacy, solidifying Einstein’s place as one of the most influential figures in scientific and intellectual history. His contributions continue to shape our understanding of the universe and inspire new generations of scientists and thinkers.

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Albert Einstein’s Role in the Atomic Bomb Was the “One Great Mistake in My Life”

Einstein and his colleague Leo Szilard played a crucial role in encouraging the United States to create an atomic bomb.

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Although acquainted with physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer , Einstein never worked on the Manhattan Project that led to the development of nuclear weapons, nor was he aware of plans to drop the bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But Einstein and his colleague Leo Szilard played a crucial role in encouraging President Franklin D. Roosevelt to pursue the bomb in the first place.

A Startling Visit from a Friend

It all started with a visit by Szilard, a Hungarian-German physicist who previously studied with Einstein in the 1920s. Their research led to the creation of a refrigerator pump that required no moving parts, resulting in what is most commonly called the Einstein refrigerator, according to Genius in the Shadows , a Szilard biography by William Lanouette.

After their collaboration, Szilard conceived the idea of a nuclear “chain reaction” while working in London in 1933. The next year, he convinced the British government to make his chain reaction patent a military secret, according to Lanouette, successfully forestalling a nuclear arms race with Adolf Hitler , who by then was the Chancellor of Germany.

However, after scientists in Germany experimentally split the uranium atom in 1938, Szilard became deeply concerned about idea of Hitler obtaining an atomic bomb first and began raising alarm bells among his personal connections. In Lanouette’s words, he “worked frantically to start the very arms race he had feared.”

In 1939, Szilard visited his old friend Einstein, stunning the fellow physicist by describing the nuclear chain reaction concept. “I haven’t thought of that at all,” Einstein admitted, according to Lanouette. Einstein immediately agreed to warn his friends in the Belgian Royal Family that Nazi Germany might have eyes on the Belgian Congo, which contained the world’s largest uranium supply.

But after that initial meeting, Szilard became convinced that U.S. officials should be warned about Germany’s intentions as well. Szilard and Einstein met for a second time three weeks later, discussing how to get word to President Roosevelt and starting work on one of the most impactful and historic letters in the 20 th century.

The Einstein-Szilard Letter

Through friends, Szilard met with Alexander Sachs, a Wall Street banker with access to the White House. Sachs said he had already spoken with Roosevelt about uranium but that the government decided not to pursue uranium research because Columbia University physicists had told them the prospects of an atomic bomb were minimal, according to The New World 1939/1946: A History of the United States Atomic Energy Commission .

Sachs felt Roosevelt might be persuaded by someone of Einstein’s reputation, according to the book. Einstein—who was also encouraged by Hungarian physicists, including refugees Eugene Wigner and Edward Teller— sent a letter dated August 2, 1939, urging Roosevelt about the possibility that Nazi Germany could develop an atomic bomb.

“In the course of the last four months it has been made probable… that it may become possible to set up a nuclear chain reaction in a large mass of uranium by which vast amounts of power and large quantities of new radium-like elements would be generated,” the letter read . “Now it appears almost certain that this could be achieved in the immediate future.”

Warning that this phenomenon could also lead to the construction of particularly devastating bombs, Einstein encouraged Roosevelt to consider a similar program in the United States and urged him to make contact with physicists working on chain reactions in the United States, according to the letter.

Preoccupied with events in Europe, Roosevelt didn’t respond for nearly two months, making the physicists fear he wasn’t taking the threat of nuclear warfare seriously, according to the U.S. Department of Energy . On the contrary, however, Roosevelt felt Hitler achieving unilateral possession of such powerful bombs would pose a grave risk to the nation.

The Letter Spurs Action

Roosevelt wrote back to Einstein on October 19, 1939, informing him about the establishment of a committee of civilian and military representatives to study uranium, according to the Energy Department. Although this was only the first of many such steps and decisions along the way, this committee was ultimately the catalyst for the Manhattan Project.

In 1940, Einstein sent Roosevelt two more letters on March 7 and April 25, recommending additional work on nuclear research, according to An Einstein Encyclopedia by Alice Calaprice and others. He wrote again on March 25, 1945, expressing his growing fears about the possible misuse of uranium, but it wasn’t delivered before Roosevelt’s death a little more than two weeks later.

The more famous 1939 letter, however, came to be known as the Einstein-Szilard letter and is widely considered to be the key stimulus for the United States developing the atomic bomb, according to Lanouette.

Einstein never worked on the Manhattan Project and had no prior knowledge of plans to use the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. A pacifist who despised war, Einstein came to deeply regret his role in the development of the bomb, later saying : “Had I known that the Germans would not succeed in developing an atomic bomb, I would have done nothing.”

Einstein harbored these regrets for this rest of his life. In 1954, one year before his death, Einstein discussed the matter in a letter to his friend, chemist Linus Pauling. Although he cited the fear of Germany developing a bomb as a partial justification, he nevertheless described his letter to Roosevelt as the “one great mistake in my life.”

Einstein Appears in the 2023 Oppenheimer Movie

Oppenheimer , now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV+ , is directed and written by Christopher Nolan . Cillian Murphy stars as J. Robert Oppenheimer , and Tom Conti portrays Albert Einstein . Other cast members include Emily Blunt , Matt Damon , Robert Downey Jr. , Florence Pugh , Rami Malek , Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, and Kenneth Branagh.

Colin McEvoy joined the Biography.com staff in 2023, and before that had spent 16 years as a journalist, writer, and communications professional. He is the author of two true crime books: Love Me or Else and Fatal Jealousy . He is also an avid film buff, reader, and lover of great stories.

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