A man known by man, but truly known by few at all. From shows like Little Einsteins to the memes about his wacky hairdo, Albert Einstein is a name introduced to many at a very young age.
“I feel like I’ve always known about Einstein. Everyone has always known who he was. The first context I learned about him was comedic depictions as the archetype of what a scientist is,” senior Adam Poje said.
Despite that, many are unfamiliar with the man’s scientific achievements, most of which pioneered the grounds of modern physics as we know it. Einstein’s first breakthroughs came in 1905, a year now known as his Annus Mirabilis, a year where he published four revolutionary papers that transformed physics.
First, on June 9, he published a paper titled “A Heuristic View of the Production and Transformation of Light”, where he introduces the idea that light is composed of energy and quantifiable particles, which he called quanta (now known as photons). This idea set the stage for one of the foundations of physics research today: quantum mechanics, and it is for this work that he was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.
His second paper, on July 18, was titled “On the motion required by the kinetic molecular theory of the heat of small particles suspended in a stationary liquid”. In this, Einstein mathematically confirmed, with evidence within the Brownian motion, that matter is composed of atoms and inaugurated the field of statistical physics.
His third paper, arguably his most well-known, was published on September 26, titled “The electrodynamics of moving bodies”, in which Einstein developed his special theory of relativity, postulating in this study that the speed of light is constant and independent of the observer’s motion and therefore everything else is relative to the observer.
His final paper of the year, published on November 21, was titled “Does the inertia of a body depend on the energy it contains?” In this final paper, he condenses all his other work and thus his proofs on the equivalence between matter and energy into one of the most famous formulas in history: E=mc2.
Finally, one of his most influential works to date came in 1915, where Einstein presented his General Theory of Relativity, expanding his special theory with the completely ground-breaking concept that gravity is not a traditional force but rather the warping of space-time by mass. General Relativity picked up the pieces when Newtonian mechanics fell, like with the prediction of Mercury’s orbit, and remains the cornerstone of astrophysics to this day.
Einstein’s contributions to physics fundamentally altered how we perceive the universe.
From his groundbreaking work on relativity and quantum mechanics to his influence on the development of modern technology, his theories reshaped scientific thought and paved the way for future discoveries. His insights into space, time, and energy continue to drive advancements in fields ranging from astrophysics to engineering.
“He transformed our understanding of gravity, time, and space. In doing so, he also paved the way for the challenging of long-held scientific beliefs, encouraging a more inquisitive approach to experimenting with ideas,” senior Adam Dubelman said.
Beyond the scientific realm, Einstein’s work had profound effects on daily life. His discoveries paved the way for technologies like GPS, which relies on relativity to provide accurate location data. The understanding of photons from the photoelectric effect contributed to the development of solar panels, revolutionizing renewable energy. Even the atomic bomb, a consequence of E=mc^2, dramatically shaped global politics and warfare.
“I think that one of his more underrated impacts was pushing physics more mainstream. This has been done by a few physics personalities, like Neil deGrasse Tyson, but I think that Einstein’s relevance in pop culture is a precursor to this introduction of physics concepts to the masses,” Poje said.
