Albert Einstein was an exceptional genius. His theory of relativity was taken as the basis of modern physics; he also plays a special role in introducing new physical concepts and theories into scientific circulation. The 1921 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics always attracted increased public attention not only to his scientific research, everyone was also interested in his personal life. These amazing facts about Einstein's life will surprise you even more.
15. Einstein did not believe in a personified God
Einstein said that he believed in the "pantheistic" god Benedict Spinoza, but not in a personified God - such a belief he criticized. “You believe in God, who plays dice, and I - in complete law and order in the world, which objectively exists and which I am wildly speculatively trying to capture. I strongly believe, but I hope that someone will discover a more realistic path or framework than it was my lot to find it. Even the great success of quantum theory will not make me believe in a fundamental dice game, although I know very well that some of our young colleagues interpret this as a consequence of old age,”said the scientist.
14. Einstein did not recognize himself as an atheist
The scientist repudiated the label “atheist”, explaining his views: “I have repeatedly said that, in my opinion, the idea of a personified God looks childish. You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the spirit of the crusades of professional atheists, whose fervor is caused mainly by painful liberation from the shackles of religious education received in youth. I prefer humility, corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual awareness of nature and our own being."
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13. Einstein didn't wear socks
Even in his youth, Einstein noticed that socks quickly rub to holes. The man solved this problem in a peculiar way - he simply stopped wearing them. At official events, Einstein put on high boots so that the lack of this detail would not be conspicuous.
12. Einstein once negotiated
From an early age, Albert Einstein was an opponent of war. In 1914, radical students seized control of the University of Berlin and took the rector and several professors hostage. Einstein, who was respected by both students and teachers, was sent together with Max Born to negotiate with the "invaders" and he managed to find a compromise and peacefully resolve the situation.
11. Einstein developed more slowly as a child
Little Albert had such problems with speech that those around him were afraid if he would learn to speak at all. Einstein only spoke at the age of 7. Even today, some scientists believe that the genius had some form of autism, at least he showed all the signs of Asperger's syndrome.
10. Platonic relationship with the first wife
The scientist lived with his first wife Mileva Marich for 11 years. Not only was Einstein a womanizer, but he also put forward a number of conditions for his wife: she should not insist on an intimate relationship and expect any manifestations of feelings from her husband, but she was obliged to bring food to the office and monitor the house. The woman conscientiously fulfilled all the conditions, but Einstein divorced her anyway.
9. Einstein had an illegitimate daughter
Even before the wedding, Mileva Maric gave birth to their first child from Albert - daughter Lieserl. But the newly-made father, due to material difficulties, offered to give the baby up for adoption into a rich childless family of Mileva's relatives. The woman obeyed her future spouse, and the scientist himself hid this dark story.
8. Einstein was a talented inventor
An incident in a Berlin family pushed physicists Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard to create a new absorption refrigerator. The family members were killed by a sulfur dioxide leak from the refrigerator. The refrigerator proposed by Einstein and Szilard had no moving parts and used relatively harmless alcohol. How many problems of humanity could a scientist solve if he focused on inventing something new.
7. Einstein was a heavy smoker
Einstein started smoking while still a student at the Polytechnic University in Zurich. 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. One of his pipes can be seen at the National Museum of American History in Washington.
6. Einstein's youngest son suffered from schizophrenia
Einstein's youngest son, Edward, showed great promise. But when he went to university, he had a serious nervous breakdown. During hospitalization, the young man was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Eduard ended up in a psychiatric hospital at the age of 21, where he spent most of his life. Einstein found it difficult to get used to the fact that his child was sick. In one of his letters, the physicist even wrote that it would be better if Edward had not been born.
5. Einstein could become president of Israel
In 1952, politician David Ben-Gurion invited Einstein to become president of Israel. Albert rejected the offer, explaining the refusal by a lack of experience and an inappropriate mindset.
4. Einstein loved women
In February 1919, Einstein divorced his first wife Mileva Maric, and a few months later he married his cousin Elsa. During his second marriage, the physicist had many mistresses, Elsa was not only aware of all her husband's adventures, but could also discuss his extramarital adventures with him.
3. Einstein and the Soviet spy
In several of his letters, Einstein mentioned his mistress Margarita, whom he called a "Soviet spy." The FBI was seriously considering the version that the girl was a Russian agent whose mission was to lure Einstein to work in the Soviet Union.
2. Einstein married a cousin
Elsa Leventhal was Einstein's maternal cousin. She was three years older, divorced, had two daughters. Since childhood, Elsa and Albert have been on good terms. The close relationship did not bother the lovers in the least, and in 1919 they got married. They never gave birth to common children, but Einstein lived with Elsa until her death.
1. Einstein's brain was stolen
In 1955, the 76-year-old physicist was admitted to Princeton Hospital complaining of chest pain. The next morning, Einstein died of massive hemorrhage following a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Einstein himself wanted to be cremated after death. Without permission, Einstein's brain was removed by pathologist Thomas Harvey. He photographed the brain from various angles and then cut it into approximately 240 blocks. For 40 years, he sent pieces of Einstein's brain for study to leading neurologists.