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mahatmakanejeeves

(60,665 posts)
Thu Mar 14, 2024, 11:54 AM Mar 2024

On this day, March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein was born. On this day, March 14, 2018, Stephen Hawking died.

Fittingly, Einstein was born on what would later be known as Pi Day.

Albert Einstein was born tomorrow 1879. We are lucky that he came to the United States. Here is his immigration form:





Albert Einstein



Einstein in 1921, by Ferdinand Schmutzer

Born: 14 March 1879; Ulm, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire
Died: 18 April 1955 (aged 76); Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.

Albert Einstein (/ˈaɪnstaɪn/ EYEN-styne; German: [ˈalbɛʁt ˈʔaɪnʃtaɪn] (audio speaker iconlisten); 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity, but he also made important contributions to the development of the theory of quantum mechanics. Relativity and quantum mechanics are together the two pillars of modern physics. His mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, which arises from relativity theory, has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation". His work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect", a pivotal step in the development of quantum theory. His intellectual achievements and originality resulted in "Einstein" becoming synonymous with "genius".

In 1905, a year sometimes described as his annus mirabilis ('miracle year'), Einstein published four groundbreaking papers. These outlined the theory of the photoelectric effect, explained Brownian motion, introduced special relativity, and demonstrated mass-energy equivalence. Einstein thought that the laws of classical mechanics could no longer be reconciled with those of the electromagnetic field, which led him to develop his special theory of relativity. He then extended the theory to gravitational fields; he published a paper on general relativity in 1916, introducing his theory of gravitation. In 1917, he applied the general theory of relativity to model the structure of the universe. He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory, which led to his explanations of particle theory and the motion of molecules. He also investigated the thermal properties of light and the quantum theory of radiation, which laid the foundation of the photon theory of light.

However, for much of the later part of his career, he worked on two ultimately unsuccessful endeavors. First, despite his great contributions to quantum mechanics, he opposed what it evolved into, objecting that nature "does not play dice". Second, he attempted to devise a unified field theory by generalizing his geometric theory of gravitation to include electromagnetism. As a result, he became increasingly isolated from the mainstream of modern physics.

{snip}

Just as fitting:

Stephen Hawking



Hawking in the 1980s

Born: Stephen William Hawking; 8 January 1942; Oxford, England
Died: 14 March 2018 (aged 76); Cambridge, England
Resting place: Westminster Abbey
Education: University College, Oxford (BA), Trinity Hall, Cambridge (PhD)
Thesis: Properties of Expanding Universes (1966)
Website: www.hawking.org.uk

Stephen William Hawking CH CBE FRS FRSA (8 January 1942 – 14 March 2018) was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who, at the time of his death, was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. Between 1979 and 2009, he was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, widely viewed as one of the most prestigious academic posts in the world.

{snip}

Tue Mar 14, 2023: On this day, March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein was born.

Mon Mar 14, 2022: On this day, March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein was born.

Sun Mar 14, 2021: On this day, March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein was born.
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On this day, March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein was born. On this day, March 14, 2018, Stephen Hawking died. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Mar 2024 OP
Pi Day Alice Kramden Mar 2024 #1
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