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Albert Einstein is one of the most famous and influential physicists in the history of science. His theory of relativity changed our understanding of space, time, and matter. However, there are many legends and myths surrounding his personality and scientific activities that do not always correspond to reality. In this article, we will tell you about the 10 most common misconceptions about Albert Einstein that you believe in absolutely nothing.
Einstein stole the theory of relativity from a colleague
No, it's not. Einstein published his famous paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" in 1905, in which he first presented the foundations of special relativity. However, before him, other scientists also dealt with the problem of matching the laws of electromagnetism and mechanics in different reference systems. For example, the French mathematician Henri Poincare formulated the principle of relativity, according to which all physical laws should be the same in systems moving uniformly and rectilinearly relative to each other. And the Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz derived formulas for converting coordinates and time between such systems that bear his name.
Some sources claim that Einstein copied or used the ideas of Poincare and Lorentz without reference to them. However, this is unfair for several reasons. First, Einstein recognized the merits of his predecessors and cited their work in his publications. Second, Einstein went further than Poincare and Lorentz in his understanding of the relativity of space and time. He showed that time is not absolute, but depends on the speed of the observer. He also rejected the existence of the ether-a hypothetical medium that fills all space and serves as a carrier of light. He proved that the speed of light is constant for all observers and cannot be exceeded by any body. He also derived his famous equation E=mc ^ 2^, which relates mass and energy.
Poincare and Lorentz did not dispute Einstein's priority and did not even agree with his theory completely. They continued to adhere to the concept of the ether and considered Lorentz transformations only a mathematical device. As the physicist Louis de Broglie wrote: "Poincare never took the decisive step and gave Einstein the honor of seeing all the consequences of the principle of relativity and, in particular, by deeply analyzing the measurements of length and time, to find out the true physical nature of the connection established by the principle of relativity between space and time."
Einstein didn't do well in school
No, that's not true either. The myth that Einstein was a bad student at school was created by a misinterpretation of his graduation certificate from the cantonal school in Aarau (Switzerland), which he received in 1896. This document shows that the grades for the first semester were low (from 1 to 3 on a six - point scale), and for the second semester they were high (from 5 to 6). As if Einstein was a "two-year-old" at first, and then pulled himself up.
In fact, this is due to the fact that in that year the school radically changed the principle of assessment: the highest score was six instead of one. Thus, Einstein always showed good results in physics, mathematics and history (5 or 6 points), and in French he had a single C (according to the new system). His GPA was 4.91 under the old system and 5.05 under the new one.
However, this does not mean that Einstein was an obedient and inquisitive student. He often skipped classes that he found boring or useless. He disliked the formal education system and authoritarian teaching style.
Einstein was involved in the creation of nuclear weapons
No, this is also incorrect. Einstein was not involved in the development of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. His only role in this project was that he signed a letter to US President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939, in which he warned about the possibility of such weapons being developed by Nazi Germany and recommended starting his own research in this area. This letter was written at the initiative of Hungarian emigre physicists Leo Szilard, Edward Teller and Eugen Wigner, who turned to Einstein for help, knowing of his authority and friendship with Roosevelt.
Einstein was not aware of the progress of work on creating the bomb and did not have access to secret data. He wasn't even a U.S. citizen until 1940 and couldn't participate in military projects. He was also a pacifist and opposed the use of violence in any form. After it became known about the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, Einstein expressed his regret and grief over this fact. He also became one of the initiators of the movement for the prohibition of nuclear weapons and the peaceful use of atomic energy.
Einstein was a bad father and husband
This statement has some grounds, but it is not entirely true. Einstein really wasn't a model family man and had complicated relationships with his wives and children. His first wife, Mileva Maric, was a Serbian scientist whom he met at the Zurich Polytechnic Institute. They married in 1903 and had two sons, Hans Albert and Eduard. However, their marriage began to fall apart at the seams after Einstein became a famous scientist and moved to Berlin in 1914. He began an affair with his cousin Elsa Leventhal, who became his second wife in 1919 after divorcing Mileva.
Einstein did not see his sons often and did not maintain close contact with them. He was also unaware of the fate of his first daughter, Lieserl, whom Mileva gave birth to before their marriage in 1902. It is assumed that she died of an illness or was given up for adoption. Einstein also did not live in harmony with his second wife, Elsa. She took care of him like a sick child, but he continued to have relationships with other women. They didn't divorce just because of his public image.
However, this does not mean that Einstein was indifferent to his loved ones or cruel to them. He tried to help them financially and morally whenever possible. He transferred part of his royalties to Mileva and even gave her money from the Nobel Prize, which he received in 1921. He also took care of his youngest son, Eduard, who suffered from schizophrenia and was hospitalized in a psychiatric clinic. He kept in touch with Hans Albert, who became a successful hydraulic engineer and emigrated to the United States. He loved his second wife, Elsa, until her death from a heart attack in 1936.
Einstein could have been president of Israel
Yes, it's true. In 1952, after the death of the first president of Israel, Chaim Weizman, the government of this state invited Einstein to take this post. This was an unexpected and honorable offer for Einstein, who was Jewish and sympathetic to the Zionist movement. However, he rejected this idea, citing his old age, lack of political experience and unwillingness to interfere in conflicts with Arab countries. He also expressed his opinion that the President of Israel should be elected by the people, not appointed by the government. Einstein wrote a letter to Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion thanking him for his trust and respect, but resigning his position with deep regret.
Einstein didn't believe in God
It depends on how you understand the concept of God. Einstein was not an atheist, nor did he deny the existence of some higher intelligence or law underlying all things. However, he also did not belong to any religion and did not recognize a personal or anthropomorphic God who interferes in human affairs or answers prayers. He was skeptical of the Bible's stories and miracles, regarding them as myths or symbols. He expressed respect for people's religious feelings, but held his own worldview.
Einstein described himself as a” cosmic religious man " who feels awe and admiration for the harmony and beauty of nature. He believed that science could reveal the secrets of the universe and show its order and regularity. He also believed that a person should live in accordance with ethical principles based on compassion and justice. He said “" The most beautiful and profound feeling we can experience is that of the mysterious. This is the source of all art and science. He who does not know this feeling and is no longer able to be surprised and admired, is as if dead: his eyes are closed”"
Einstein was a bad violinist
No, it's not. Einstein loved music and played the violin since childhood. He studied under various teachers and achieved a certain mastery in this art. He often played for his own pleasure or as a relaxation after a hard day's work. He also performed in ensembles or duets with his friends or colleagues. His favorite composers were Mozart, Bach and Schubert.
Of course, Einstein was not a professional musician and did not claim to have a high level of performance. He sometimes made mistakes or played out of tune, especially when he was excited or distracted. But he always played with emotion and expression, conveying his attitude to music. One of his friends, physicist Max Born, wrote “ " He played very well… His tone was pure… His technique was sufficient to play simple sonatas by Mozart or Bach... but most importantly, he played with great love and understanding”"
Einstein couldn't speak until he was five years old
No, that's not true either. This myth arose from the fact that Einstein was a late speaker and began to pronounce words only at the age of two or three. However, by the age of five, he was already able to communicate fluently in his native German and even learned to read. His parents and teachers did not notice any problems with his speech or development. He didn't think much of it himself and thought that he just didn't feel the need to speak up earlier.
Some psychologists and biographers have tried to explain Einstein's late speech development by various factors, such as autism, dyslexia, developmental asynchrony, or family circumstances. However, there is no conclusive evidence for these hypotheses. Perhaps Einstein was just a very thoughtful and internally oriented child who preferred to think in pictures rather than words. He could also be very critical of his speech and wait until he could express his thoughts accurately and clearly.
Einstein had a low IQ
No, this is absurd. Einstein never took standard IQ tests, so his exact value is unknown. However, by all indications, he had high intellectual ability and creative potential. He was a gifted mathematician and physicist who made revolutionary discoveries in science. He was also interested in philosophy, literature, history, and art. He knew several languages, including German, English, French, and Latin. He had a broad outlook and an inquisitive mind.
Einstein's IQ scores, which are sometimes given in various sources (from 160 to 190), are only rough estimates or speculations based on his background or scientific achievements. They have no scientific basis and do not reflect the complexity and diversity of his personality and thinking. In addition, IQ is not the only or most important indicator of intelligence or genius. It depends on many factors, such as education, culture, motivation, emotions, and creativity.
Einstein said “Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity.”
No, those weren't his words either. This phrase is often attributed to Einstein, but there is no documentary evidence that he uttered or wrote it. Most likely, it was created due to incorrect attribution or translation of another quote. For example, in 1920 Einstein said “What two things in this world seem infinite to me: space and human stupidity” Perhaps this phrase was passed on by hearsay or translated with errors and turned into a more well-known version.
In addition, a similar idea was expressed even before Einstein by other authors. For example, in 1874, the French writer Alphonse Carr wrote: “The only two things in a world without end are human stupidity and the universe; although I'm not sure about the latter." In 1915, the American humorist Keane Hubbard wrote: “The only two things without end are the universe and human dope; and I'm not sure about the universe." Perhaps Einstein was aware of these quotes or came to a similar conclusion on his own.
In conclusion, we can say that Albert Einstein was an outstanding scientist and a person who deserves respect and admiration. However, he was also a man with his own weaknesses and mistakes that should not be ignored or excused. His life and science were full of contradictions and riddles that still arouse interest and discussion. But most importantly, he was an honest seeker of truth and beauty who sought to understand the world and make it a better place.
Einstein stole the theory of relativity from a colleague
No, it's not. Einstein published his famous paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" in 1905, in which he first presented the foundations of special relativity. However, before him, other scientists also dealt with the problem of matching the laws of electromagnetism and mechanics in different reference systems. For example, the French mathematician Henri Poincare formulated the principle of relativity, according to which all physical laws should be the same in systems moving uniformly and rectilinearly relative to each other. And the Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz derived formulas for converting coordinates and time between such systems that bear his name.
Some sources claim that Einstein copied or used the ideas of Poincare and Lorentz without reference to them. However, this is unfair for several reasons. First, Einstein recognized the merits of his predecessors and cited their work in his publications. Second, Einstein went further than Poincare and Lorentz in his understanding of the relativity of space and time. He showed that time is not absolute, but depends on the speed of the observer. He also rejected the existence of the ether-a hypothetical medium that fills all space and serves as a carrier of light. He proved that the speed of light is constant for all observers and cannot be exceeded by any body. He also derived his famous equation E=mc ^ 2^, which relates mass and energy.
Poincare and Lorentz did not dispute Einstein's priority and did not even agree with his theory completely. They continued to adhere to the concept of the ether and considered Lorentz transformations only a mathematical device. As the physicist Louis de Broglie wrote: "Poincare never took the decisive step and gave Einstein the honor of seeing all the consequences of the principle of relativity and, in particular, by deeply analyzing the measurements of length and time, to find out the true physical nature of the connection established by the principle of relativity between space and time."
Einstein didn't do well in school
No, that's not true either. The myth that Einstein was a bad student at school was created by a misinterpretation of his graduation certificate from the cantonal school in Aarau (Switzerland), which he received in 1896. This document shows that the grades for the first semester were low (from 1 to 3 on a six - point scale), and for the second semester they were high (from 5 to 6). As if Einstein was a "two-year-old" at first, and then pulled himself up.
In fact, this is due to the fact that in that year the school radically changed the principle of assessment: the highest score was six instead of one. Thus, Einstein always showed good results in physics, mathematics and history (5 or 6 points), and in French he had a single C (according to the new system). His GPA was 4.91 under the old system and 5.05 under the new one.
However, this does not mean that Einstein was an obedient and inquisitive student. He often skipped classes that he found boring or useless. He disliked the formal education system and authoritarian teaching style.
Einstein was involved in the creation of nuclear weapons
No, this is also incorrect. Einstein was not involved in the development of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. His only role in this project was that he signed a letter to US President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939, in which he warned about the possibility of such weapons being developed by Nazi Germany and recommended starting his own research in this area. This letter was written at the initiative of Hungarian emigre physicists Leo Szilard, Edward Teller and Eugen Wigner, who turned to Einstein for help, knowing of his authority and friendship with Roosevelt.
Einstein was not aware of the progress of work on creating the bomb and did not have access to secret data. He wasn't even a U.S. citizen until 1940 and couldn't participate in military projects. He was also a pacifist and opposed the use of violence in any form. After it became known about the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, Einstein expressed his regret and grief over this fact. He also became one of the initiators of the movement for the prohibition of nuclear weapons and the peaceful use of atomic energy.
Einstein was a bad father and husband
This statement has some grounds, but it is not entirely true. Einstein really wasn't a model family man and had complicated relationships with his wives and children. His first wife, Mileva Maric, was a Serbian scientist whom he met at the Zurich Polytechnic Institute. They married in 1903 and had two sons, Hans Albert and Eduard. However, their marriage began to fall apart at the seams after Einstein became a famous scientist and moved to Berlin in 1914. He began an affair with his cousin Elsa Leventhal, who became his second wife in 1919 after divorcing Mileva.
Einstein did not see his sons often and did not maintain close contact with them. He was also unaware of the fate of his first daughter, Lieserl, whom Mileva gave birth to before their marriage in 1902. It is assumed that she died of an illness or was given up for adoption. Einstein also did not live in harmony with his second wife, Elsa. She took care of him like a sick child, but he continued to have relationships with other women. They didn't divorce just because of his public image.
However, this does not mean that Einstein was indifferent to his loved ones or cruel to them. He tried to help them financially and morally whenever possible. He transferred part of his royalties to Mileva and even gave her money from the Nobel Prize, which he received in 1921. He also took care of his youngest son, Eduard, who suffered from schizophrenia and was hospitalized in a psychiatric clinic. He kept in touch with Hans Albert, who became a successful hydraulic engineer and emigrated to the United States. He loved his second wife, Elsa, until her death from a heart attack in 1936.
Einstein could have been president of Israel
Yes, it's true. In 1952, after the death of the first president of Israel, Chaim Weizman, the government of this state invited Einstein to take this post. This was an unexpected and honorable offer for Einstein, who was Jewish and sympathetic to the Zionist movement. However, he rejected this idea, citing his old age, lack of political experience and unwillingness to interfere in conflicts with Arab countries. He also expressed his opinion that the President of Israel should be elected by the people, not appointed by the government. Einstein wrote a letter to Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion thanking him for his trust and respect, but resigning his position with deep regret.
Einstein didn't believe in God
It depends on how you understand the concept of God. Einstein was not an atheist, nor did he deny the existence of some higher intelligence or law underlying all things. However, he also did not belong to any religion and did not recognize a personal or anthropomorphic God who interferes in human affairs or answers prayers. He was skeptical of the Bible's stories and miracles, regarding them as myths or symbols. He expressed respect for people's religious feelings, but held his own worldview.
Einstein described himself as a” cosmic religious man " who feels awe and admiration for the harmony and beauty of nature. He believed that science could reveal the secrets of the universe and show its order and regularity. He also believed that a person should live in accordance with ethical principles based on compassion and justice. He said “" The most beautiful and profound feeling we can experience is that of the mysterious. This is the source of all art and science. He who does not know this feeling and is no longer able to be surprised and admired, is as if dead: his eyes are closed”"
Einstein was a bad violinist
No, it's not. Einstein loved music and played the violin since childhood. He studied under various teachers and achieved a certain mastery in this art. He often played for his own pleasure or as a relaxation after a hard day's work. He also performed in ensembles or duets with his friends or colleagues. His favorite composers were Mozart, Bach and Schubert.
Of course, Einstein was not a professional musician and did not claim to have a high level of performance. He sometimes made mistakes or played out of tune, especially when he was excited or distracted. But he always played with emotion and expression, conveying his attitude to music. One of his friends, physicist Max Born, wrote “ " He played very well… His tone was pure… His technique was sufficient to play simple sonatas by Mozart or Bach... but most importantly, he played with great love and understanding”"
Einstein couldn't speak until he was five years old
No, that's not true either. This myth arose from the fact that Einstein was a late speaker and began to pronounce words only at the age of two or three. However, by the age of five, he was already able to communicate fluently in his native German and even learned to read. His parents and teachers did not notice any problems with his speech or development. He didn't think much of it himself and thought that he just didn't feel the need to speak up earlier.
Some psychologists and biographers have tried to explain Einstein's late speech development by various factors, such as autism, dyslexia, developmental asynchrony, or family circumstances. However, there is no conclusive evidence for these hypotheses. Perhaps Einstein was just a very thoughtful and internally oriented child who preferred to think in pictures rather than words. He could also be very critical of his speech and wait until he could express his thoughts accurately and clearly.
Einstein had a low IQ
No, this is absurd. Einstein never took standard IQ tests, so his exact value is unknown. However, by all indications, he had high intellectual ability and creative potential. He was a gifted mathematician and physicist who made revolutionary discoveries in science. He was also interested in philosophy, literature, history, and art. He knew several languages, including German, English, French, and Latin. He had a broad outlook and an inquisitive mind.
Einstein's IQ scores, which are sometimes given in various sources (from 160 to 190), are only rough estimates or speculations based on his background or scientific achievements. They have no scientific basis and do not reflect the complexity and diversity of his personality and thinking. In addition, IQ is not the only or most important indicator of intelligence or genius. It depends on many factors, such as education, culture, motivation, emotions, and creativity.
Einstein said “Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity.”
No, those weren't his words either. This phrase is often attributed to Einstein, but there is no documentary evidence that he uttered or wrote it. Most likely, it was created due to incorrect attribution or translation of another quote. For example, in 1920 Einstein said “What two things in this world seem infinite to me: space and human stupidity” Perhaps this phrase was passed on by hearsay or translated with errors and turned into a more well-known version.
In addition, a similar idea was expressed even before Einstein by other authors. For example, in 1874, the French writer Alphonse Carr wrote: “The only two things in a world without end are human stupidity and the universe; although I'm not sure about the latter." In 1915, the American humorist Keane Hubbard wrote: “The only two things without end are the universe and human dope; and I'm not sure about the universe." Perhaps Einstein was aware of these quotes or came to a similar conclusion on his own.
In conclusion, we can say that Albert Einstein was an outstanding scientist and a person who deserves respect and admiration. However, he was also a man with his own weaknesses and mistakes that should not be ignored or excused. His life and science were full of contradictions and riddles that still arouse interest and discussion. But most importantly, he was an honest seeker of truth and beauty who sought to understand the world and make it a better place.
