7 interesting facts from the life of Albert Einstein

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Knowledge is power. And a life hacker needs knowledge doubly. In this series of articles, we collect fascinating and sometimes unexpected facts about the world around us. We hope that you will find them not only interesting, but also practically useful.

The name of Albert Einstein occupies a special place in the history of mankind. His scientific work in many ways laid the foundation for modern physics, and his sociability, friendliness, cheerfulness and incomparable charm made him one of the most beloved and recognizable personalities in the history of science. Today we want to acquaint you with several little-known facts from the life of the legendary scientist.

The authorship of the theory of relativity was in question

The main and most important achievement of Albert Einstein is the theory of relativity. However, he did not work on it alone, almost at the same time the famous German mathematician David Hilbert was working on the same issue. Scientists were in active correspondence and exchanged ideas and achieved results among themselves. The final equations of general relativity were derived by them almost simultaneously, but in different ways. Until recently, it was believed that Hilbert received them five days earlier, but published them somewhat later than Einstein, so the latter got all the glory. However, in 1997, new documents were discovered, in particular Hilbert's drafts, from which it became clear that there were significant gaps in his work, which were eliminated only after the publication of Einstein's publication. However, the scientists themselves did not attach too much importance to this and never arranged disputes over the primacy of the discovery of the theory of relativity.

He was not a bad student at school

One of the most famous legends says that young Albert did not do very well at school. It is likely that this myth is spread solely by impressionable students and their parents, who thus receive an excellent excuse for their failures in school. In fact, this information has no basis. Albert Einstein did well at school, and in some subjects he was significantly ahead of his peers. However, a very developed mind and skepticism were too challenging in the conditions of the then German school, therefore many teachers frankly did not like Albert. Perhaps because of this, the myth of his poor performance was subsequently born.

Einstein invented the refrigerator

In addition to theoretical research in the field of physics, the scientist had a hand in some practical inventions. Few people know that Einstein proposed a refrigerator design that has no moving parts, does not require electricity, and uses the energy of low-power heating devices for its operation. Einstein sold the patent for his invention to Electrolux in 1930. However, the company did not start production of "Einstein's refrigerators", since by that time the compressor design had become very popular. The only working copy disappeared without a trace, only a few photographs of it remained.

The FBI considered him a Soviet spy

The political views of the famous scientist were moderately leftist, which caused the attention to him from the FBI. Since the day Einstein moved to the United States, this service has secretly spied on him, looked through his letters and recorded telephone conversations. At the time of his death, his file consisted of 1,427 pages. The version that Einstein was a Soviet spy was seriously considered, and for some time there was even a threat of expulsion of the scientist from the country.

He was not involved in the development of nuclear weapons

In some media, there is a version that Albert Einstein took an active part in the creation of nuclear weapons, and then, realizing its potential danger, became an active fighter for disarmament. In fact, given the circumstances outlined in the previous paragraph, the great physicist was not allowed a cannon shot from the Manhattan Project, within which the American atomic bomb was being developed. However, this project appeared largely thanks to Einstein, because it was he who wrote a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939 warning that Germany was conducting active research in the field of nuclear chain reactions.

Einstein was a heavy smoker and lover of women

Despite all his scientific achievements, Albert Einstein was least of all like a reclusive scientist who devoted his entire life only to science. He loved to play the violin, had a great sense of humor and appreciated communication. Smoking a pipe, in his own words, helped him focus and tune in to work, so that he did not part with her for almost the rest of his life. A separate novel can be written about the relationship of a scientist with women. The talented and insanely charming physicist enjoyed immense popularity among women. The scientist's biographers count at least six women with whom he kept in touch at various times, not counting small intrigues.

Einstein's riddle

There is an interesting logic problem associated with Einstein's name, which you too can try to solve. According to legend (however, nowhere confirmed), it was used by scientists to assess the mental abilities of their future assistants. It is believed that only 2% of people can solve this problem without a pen and paper. Here is her condition.

There are five houses on the street.

The Englishman lives in the red house.

The Spaniard has a dog.

They drink coffee in the green house.

The Ukrainian is drinking tea.

The green house is located immediately to the right of the white house.

Anyone who smokes Old Gold breeds snails.

Kool is smoked in the yellow house.

Milk is drunk in the central house.

The Norwegian lives in the first house.

The Chesterfield smoker's neighbor keeps a fox.

Kool is smoked in the house next to the one where the horse is kept.

Anyone who smokes Lucky Strike drinks orange juice.

The Japanese smokes Parliament.

The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.

Who drinks the water? Who is holding the zebra?

If you honestly coped, then write the answer in the comments. Just mind not to peep anywhere, Einstein is watching you!