Top 7 works that changed the world of Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was one of the most famous scientists of all time, to the point that his name has become almost synonymous with the phrase "genius".

Einstein's world-changing research

In 1921, Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize in Physics. Since the special theory of relativity was still a controversial subject, the Nobel committee awarded him the prize for his explanation of the photoelectric effect and his contributions to physics. 

Albert Einstein.

It was only later that people realized how much of an impact his theory of relativity had. Thanks to Einstein, our understanding of the universe changed completely, and it even helped shape the world we live in today.

1. The relationship between space and time

One of Einstein's earliest achievements at the age of 26 was the special theory of relativity. It is so called because it deals with relative motion in the special case where gravity is ignored.

This may sound innocuous, but it was actually one of the greatest scientific revolutions in history, completely changing the way physicists think about space and time.

Previously, we thought of space and time as completely separate, because they were measured in different units, such as kilometers or seconds.

But Einstein showed how they are actually interchangeable, linked together via the speed of light, which is approximately 300,000 km/second.

Illustration photo.

The most famous consequence of special relativity is that nothing can travel faster than light. But it also means that things start to behave very strangely as the speed of light is approached.

For example, if you could see a spaceship moving at 80% the speed of light, it would appear about 40% shorter than it would appear at rest.

If you could see inside this ship, everything would appear to move in slow motion, with it taking 100 seconds to mark a minute, according to measurements by Georgia State University's HyperPhysics.

This means that the crew of the spacecraft will actually age more slowly as they travel faster.

2. E = mc^2

The famous equation became Einstein's symbol.

One surprising branch of special relativity is Einstein's famous equation E = mc^2. This may be the only mathematical formula that has achieved "cultural icon" status.

The reason why it is so famous is because the equation represents the equivalence of mass (m) and energy (E) - two physical parameters that were previously thought to be completely separate.

In traditional physics, mass measures the amount of matter contained in an object, while energy is a property that an object possesses due to its motion and the forces acting on it.

However, Einstein's equation says that mass and energy are essentially the same, as long as you multiply mass by c^2 - or the square of the speed of light (a very large number), to ensure that it ends up as a unit of energy.

3. Laser beam

Stages of stimulated emission in a laser cavity. (Photo: Getty Images)

Lasers are an essential part of modern technology. They have many applications, from barcode readers and laser mice to holograms and fiber optics.

Although lasers are not often associated with Einstein, some of his work made them possible.

In 1959, the term laser was coined, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." Stimulated emission, on the other hand, was a concept Einstein had developed more than 40 years earlier, according to the American Physical Society.

Einstein realized that the new photons traveled in the same direction, with the same frequency and phase as the original photon. This led to an "cascade effect" , where more and more nearly identical photons were created.

4. Black holes, wormholes

Einstein's special theory of relativity showed that "spacetime" can cause some strange things to happen, even in the absence of a gravitational field.

Black hole.

He discovered that massive objects like planets and stars actually distort the fabric of 'space-time.' It is this distortion that creates the effects we perceive as gravity.

Einstein explained general relativity through a complex set of equations, which has many applications.

Perhaps the most famous solution based on Einstein's equations comes from Karl Schwarzschild in 1916, when he proposed a black hole in the universe.

In addition, a solution that Einstein himself developed in 1935 describes the possibility of shortcuts from one point in "space-time" to another.

The concept was originally called an Einstein-Rosen bridge (after Einstein's colleague Nathan Rosen). They are now more commonly known as wormholes.

5. The expansion of the universe

The structure of space seems to be in a state of constant expansion. (Illustration).

One of the first things Einstein did with his own general relativity equations in 1915 was apply them to the universe.

However, there was one problem that he himself could not explain: the structure of space seemed to be in a state of constant expansion. As a result, it affected the galaxies, causing the distance between them to constantly increase.

Realizing something was wrong here, Einstein added a concept called the cosmological constant to his equations to create a static, stable universe.

6. Atomic bomb

Image of the explosion of a nuclear bomb. (Photo: Getty Images)

Although not directly, Einstein is credited with the "invention" of nuclear weapons through his equation E = mc^2.

In fact, Einstein still played a major role in the actual development of the first atomic bombs .

In 1939, Einstein sent a letter to the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, talking about the possibility of nuclear fission and the horror that would ensue if the Nazis obtained such weapons.

The aftermath of the famous letter was the creation of the "Manhattan Project " - the project that created the first American atomic bombs used against Japan at the end of World War II.

7. Gravitational waves

In February 2016, scientists announced the discovery of gravitational waves. (Illustration photo).

Einstein died in 1955 , but his enormous scientific legacy continues to captivate even in the 21st century.

This happened in February 2016 with the announcement of the discovery of gravitational waves — another consequence of general relativity.

Gravitational waves are tiny ripples that travel through the fabric of "space-time" , and it is even claimed that Einstein "predicted" their existence, although he never spoke of the concept.