Surprising Facts About Albert Einstein

From Redditoru/F_D_P:

TIL Albert Einstein was a passionate anti-racist. He wrote an essay for The Crisis.The CrisisW.E.B. Du Bois invited Einstein to write an essay for the official NAACP magazine. Du Bois translated the essay himself; he studied in Berlin and spoke German fluently.

Context:Einstein supported equality for everyone and spoke about this often. As a Jew in Germany while Hitler gained power, he faced much trouble. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote to him asking for something for the next issue ofThe CrisisEinstein wrote a short piece.He wrote a blurb for the magazine. This blurb supported the movement in America then. He praised efforts to end racial inequality.Einstein praised the work trying to end racial inequality.

u/kopo27u/kopo27:

TIL Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952. He declined the offer.

Context: After the first president died, the Foreign Ministry filled the role. In 1952, the Foreign Ministry offered the position officially—pending a vote—to Albert Einstein. He politely refused, stating he lacked the experience for the job.From RedditorAfter Israel passed away, the Foreign Ministry filled the role. In 1952, the Foreign Ministry officially offered Albert Einstein the position—pending a vote. He politely refused, stating he lacked the experience for the job.

From Redditoru/derawin07:

TIL Einstein's last words were spoken in German to a nurse who did not speak German; those words are lost. A pathologist stole his brain during the autopsy. He kept it in a tupperware container for forty years before relatives convinced him to return it to Einstein.

Context:When Albert Einstein died, he made clear instructions for his body. These rules showed he did not want worship for his discoveries. Later, pathologist Thomas Harvey stole his brain.stole his brain. Days later, he got a blessing from Einstein's son suggesting brain study was okay if it served science. When Harvey lost his job, he went to Philadelphia. There, he cut the brain and stored it in jars in his basement. He moved the jars across the US with every move, conducting studies. No evidence showed Einstein's genius.

From Redditoru/holyfruits:

TIL Albert Einstein got a letter from a girl saying she could not be a scientist because of her gender. He replied, "I do not mind that you are a girl, but the main thing is that you yourself do not mind. There is no reason for it."

Context:Einsteinwrote back and forthEinstein encouraged women scientists with many young learners. A pen pal, Tyffany from South Africa, clarified in a letter that she was a girl because she was unsure if it was clear. Tyffany wrote to Einstein about her love for science and goals, worrying being a girl would stop her. Einstein replied that it did not bother him; the real issue was her belief in her ability.

Redditoru/dustofoblivion123:

Albert Einstein played the piano and violin with great skill. He stated, "The greatest scientists are artists as well," after saying he believed creative thought helped scientific discovery.

Context:Albert Einstein showed scientific skill, but he credited music for his abilities. He thought creative thought let him discover things in his mind. He claimed to both live and daydream in music.daydream in music, while also believing that "the greatest scientists are artists as well." Einstein played the violin and piano well, though he was an amateur.

Redditoru/amansaggu26:

Einstein failing a math exam is a myth. He failed the entrance exam to Zurich Polytechnic because he scored poorly in botany, zoology, and language.

Context:Many think Einstein was a poor student, but there is no proof. He got high marks in school and passed all math tests because he excelled at problem solving. However, he did fail the entrance exam toZurich Polytechnicat age 16. He was still about a year and a half from high school graduation and took the exam in French, which he did not know well. He passed the math section but failed the language, botany, and zoology sections.

Redditoru/aleph_five:

In 1916, Albert Einstein wrote an article proposing a better wing shape. The plane built with his wings barely took off.

Context:Einstein wrote toPaul Ehrhardt with his new wing design, which he thought would give more lift. His plan included a big arch in the wing's middle section, which he studied from bird wings. Previous Wright brothers research showed this design created a wind tunnel effect that did not work for flying, but Einstein did not know about that research. When Ehrhardt tried to fly a plane with Einstein's wing design, it felt like waddling in the air, "akin to a pregnant duck."

Redditoru/Hippo_Singularity:

Albert Einstein was deemed too great a security risk to work on the Manhattan Project.

Context:Einstein told President Roosevelt about Germany's bomb work. That alert pushed the US toward the atomic bomb via the Manhattan Project.The Manhattan Project officially formed. Scientists on the team banned from talking to Einstein because he acted like a liberal activist and seemed too risky.The scientists on board formed a group. They banned speaking with Einstein. Einstein was a liberal activist. This made him too risky to involve.

:u/pdmcmahon:

Albert Einstein and his first wife had a daughter. No one knows what happened to her after she turned one.

Context:Einstein had an illegitimate child while in school. Her existence stayed secret for about 30 years. Many thought she was adopted soon after birth.LieserlShe likely died before her second birthday from scarlet fever.

From a former RedditorRedditor:

The FBI investigated Albert Einstein from 1932 to 1955.

Context:After Einstein and his second wife Elsa moved to the United States from Germany, theFBIEinstein often spoke about social injustices in the States. This made some people see him as an "extreme radical." The file reached nearly 1,500 pages when Einstein died.

From Redditoru/suspendersbender:

Albert Einstein was one of over 5,000 people who signed a petition to end Germany's ban on homosexuality.

Context: Paragraph 175Paragraph 175 was a law criminalizing homosexuality. Magnus Hirschfeld, a clinician and activist, showed homosexual people often ended their lives. He fought the law making their choices illegal and sought mental health aid. Albert Einstein publicly backed Hirschfeld's work and opposed Paragraph 175.

From Redditoru/Art_Vandalay_Cancer:

Some say Albert Einstein was not dyslexic, contrary to popular belief. Little evidence shows otherwise!

Context:Much discussion exists about whether Einstein was dyslexic.dyslexicThe evidence suggests he was not dyslexic. He did not speak until about age three. He struggled with words until at least age seven. He excelled in creative settings and thought outside the box. These facts do not prove dyslexia; they just show why language was a difficult subject for him.

From Redditoru/poohspiglet:

Albert Einstein loved sailing. He almost drowned while sailing.

Context:Einstein liked sailing and spent much time at Saranac Lake. While sailing in 1941, his boat overturned, and his feet got caught in the rope rigging.sailingIn 1941, his boat flipped. Einstein's feet got caught in the rope rigging. A young boy on a nearby motor boat saw the danger and jumped in to free Einstein's feet.

From Redditoru/tribalDemon:

TIL: Albert Einstein flirted often. He had several affairs during his first marriage.

Context:Letters surfaced fifty years after Einstein died. They showed his actions.Extramarital affairs.He admitted to his first wife he had many women pursuing him and giving him "unwanted" affection. After that marriage ended, he married his cousin. He cheated on her with his secretary. Many women appear in his letters from both marriages.

From Redditoru/Pedro471:

TIL Albert Einstein married his first cousin.

Context:After his first marriage ended, Einstein marriedhis cousinElsa. He wrote that the marriage to Elsa was a marriage "of convenience."