Albert Einstein completely changed the way we think about the universe with his groundbreaking ideas. He is known all around the world for his achievements, but here are 11 interesting facts about Albert Einstein that you may not know…
1. Einstein took his time!
Albert Einstein told his biographer that he was slow to talk and did not start speaking until the age of 3. Dr Thomas Sowell even invented the term “Einstein Syndrome” to describe highly intelligent people who have a speech delay.
2. He was a keen musician.
Pauline, the mother of the man himself, was a great pianist and wanted her son to love music too. Therefore, she started him on violin lessons, but Einstein wasn’t too keen on it at first. He changed his mind quickly when he heard Mozart’s music, developing a new passion for music, and he continued to play his violin until the last few years of his life.
His violin was named Lina.
3. Einstein was offered the Israeli Presidency.
Chaim Weizmann, the Zionist leader and the first President of Israel, died on the 9th of November 1952. Albert Einstein, aged 73, was then asked if he could accept the position as the President of Israel. However, he refused the offer, stating that he lacked natural aptitude and the experience to deal with people effectively.
4. He was a big believer in smoking.
He loved to smoke. Einstein believed that smoking helped contribute to a judgment that is calm and objective in all human affairs.
5. Einstein helped to change science for good.
In 1905 Einstein wrote four papers that changed the face of physics for ever – the Theory of Relativity, the Theory of Brownian motion, the Establishment of the mass-energy equivalence and on the photon theory of light.
6. He was a known rebel!
After his graduation in 1900, he was given a less than admirable recommendation by his professors due to his rebellious personality, despite showing flashes of brilliance throughout his years in education. It took him a total of 9 years to find a job in academia.
7. A rebel with his wardrobe, too!
Einstein deemed socks useless and never wore them.
8. He was a worthy prize winner.
He received the 1921 Physics Nobel Prize for his work on theoretical physics and his discovery of the law of photoelectric effect.
9. You’d never get him behind the wheel.
Albert Einstein refused to learn how to drive.
10. Einstein was a keen sailor.
Although he wasn’t good at it, Albert Einstein loved sailing. Despite not knowing how to swim, he continued sailing throughout his life and kept it as a hobby.
11. Who stole Einstein’s brain?
The brain of Albert Einstein was stolen after his death in 1955. Receiving approval from Einstein’s son, a pathologist named Thomas Harvey kept it hoping he would find the secrets to Albert’s genius. He later cut the brain into pieces and sent it to several scientists for research.
FAQs about Albert Einstein
Where is Einstein’s brain now?
Nowadays, the preserved pieces of Albert Einstein’s brain can be seen in the Mutter Museum, in Philadelphia, PA.
What was Einstein’s IQ?
Albert Einstein is widely regarded to have had a genius-level IQ of at least 160.
Did Einstein have a good memory?
Strangely enough, despite having a fantastic analytical brain, Einstein’s memory wasn’t the greatest! He had trouble remembering dates and numbers.
Do you know any fun facts about Albert Einstein? Share them in the comments below!