The Life and Legacy of Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany. A curious child, he spoke later than typical, igniting a lifelong fluency in thought before words, which foreshadowed his theoretical genius.

Working as a third-class patent clerk in Bern, Einstein had ample time to think. This 'miracle year' of 1905 birthed his four groundbreaking papers while he balanced a day job, radically transforming physics.

Einstein's contributions to quantum theory are overshadowed by relativity, yet he earned his Nobel Prize for the photoelectric effect, which underpins today’s solar panels and initiated quantum mechanics.

Post-World War I, Einstein became an international celebrity, often using his fame to advocate for pacifism and Zionism. Later, he openly opposed the Nazis, leading to his emigration to the US in 1933.

Einstein’s passion for the violin was near equal to his love of physics. He played throughout his life, believing that Mozart's music reflected the harmony of the universe, akin to his own search in science.

Einstein's General Relativity, published in 1915, revolutionized gravity's concept, predicting phenomena like black holes and gravitational waves, only experimentally confirmed a century later.

After his death in 1955, Einstein's brain was preserved and studied. Unusual features were found, such as extraordinary folding in the region responsible for mathematical thought, possibly hinting at his genius.

Despite his visual brilliance in physics, Einstein had a rare congenital eye condition called 'eyelid epicanthus,' giving him distinctively unique eyes.