Uncovering the genius
What was Einstein's first job? Discover 10 fun facts about the scientist!
Image: Raghav Modi
On March 14, 1879, the famous Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany. While we all recognize him as a major figure in the history of science and appreciate his many contributions to the fields of physics and quantum mechanics, there are many colorful facts about Einstein's life that you probably haven't heard before. From his first job and hobbies to his love affairs and preferred clothing, we'll uncover 10 surprising facts about the author of the Theory of Relativity!
1
Smart boy
Image: Benjamin Smith
It's definitely not a secret that Albert Einstein was an exceptionally intelligent child. However, his achievements were extraordinary, and we're not just talking about him getting A's in school; he was teaching himself complex subjects as a preteen just for fun!
At just 12 years of age, his curious and powerful mind led him to become an autodidact. While other children were naturally playing on the playground, Einstein taught himself algebra and geometry in a single summer!
2
Scientific teen
Image: Camille Orgel
That genius child became a teenage scientist. At 16 years old, most of us were dealing with high school, but Einstein was doing something a bit different: he was writing his first scientific paper, titled "On the Investigation of the State of the Ether in a Magnetic Field."
The paper was inspired by his compass and examined the force of magnetism. Although it wasn't published, this research reveals the passion, dedication, and great intellect that Einstein displayed from a very young age.
3
A hobby
Image: Providence Doucet
But calculus and science weren't the only interests of the young Einstein. One of his other great passions was music. And, of course, he stood out in that field too.
It turns out that his mother, Pauline, was a talented pianist, and she encouraged Albert to play music from an early age. At 5 years old, Albert received a violin as a gift and began his lessons immediately.
It's said that, at first, he struggled a bit due to the instrument's complexity—yes, probably because he was only 5—but by the age of 13, he had become a skilled violinist, playing compositions by classical composers such as Bach and Mozart.
4
First job
Image: Andrew George
Einstein graduated from the Polytechnic Institute in Zurich in 1902 at the age of 23. Surprisingly, despite his impressive intellectual ability and broad knowledge, he was rejected for many of the academic positions he applied for after graduation. Faced with this situation, the scientist accepted a job at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern.
Later, Einstein stated that taking that job was "a salvation," as it provided a stable income and, at the same time, gave him free time to commit to his ongoing scientific research fully. Thanks to this key decision, by 1909, Einstein had already become a renowned scientist, celebrated for his contributions to physics.
5
Another passion
Image: Ian Keefe
With such a wonderful mind, it's no surprise that Einstein would have multiple and varied passions and hobbies.
One of those was sailing. Although he developed this interest as an adult, he was still very young when he discovered that sailing had a calming effect on him.
Sailing became one of his favorite activities, allowing him to escape the intensity of his work and appreciate nature—and his relationship with it—from a different perspective. He would often spend entire days on lakes and rivers, both during his time in Europe and later in the United States.
6
Almost a president
Image: Kate Macate
Among Einstein's varied accomplishments, there is one that many people don't know about: he almost became a president!
In 1952, the genius received a formal invitation from Israel to become the country's president. By that time, Albert was already a recognized and respected physicist, making him an ideal figure for that leadership role. However, Einstein politely declined the offer, claiming that he didn't have the political experience needed for the position and that his desire was to continue working in the scientific field. Once again, his wisdom stood out.
7
100 against him
Image: Igor Omilaev
Standing out in a field and introducing new ideas can often turn many against you. That "hate" we see today on social media isn't something entirely new. Some public figures had to deal with hate long before the internet became part of our daily lives.
Something like that happened to Einstein. As is well known, the publication of his Theory of Relativity brought a lot of uproar, both positive and negative. In 1931, a group of scientists published a collection of essays called One Hundred Authors Against Einstein (a bit aggressive, right?), in which they opposed the new ideas and discoveries of the German scientist.
8
Gossip
Image: Jarvik Joshi
The 20th century had something for everyone. In the 1950s , while Einstein was immersed in his theoretical physics work, Hollywood was at one of its peaks, with stars like Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe gracing the screen. While it may seem that science and entertainment are separate realms, rumors and gossip brought these two worlds together.
Legend has it that our well-remembered scientist had a brief romantic affair with none other than Marilyn Monroe, one of the most talented and beautiful women the world has ever seen. Although it's true that both figures met at several public events in the United States, there's not enough evidence to support this rumor.
9
The marriage
Image: Marc A. Sporys
There is a romance involving Einstein that was somewhat controversial but definitely confirmed. We're talking about his second marriage.
Einstein was married twice in his life. In 1903, he tied the knot with Mileva Marić, his colleague at the Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. Just like him, she was also noted for her brilliance. After 16 years, the marriage began to weaken, and the couple divorced in 1919.
That same year, Einstein married for the second time, this time to his first cousin , Elsa Löwenthal. The marriage was controversial due to their familial connection, but the union lasted for 17 years, until Elsa's death in 1936.
10
Free ankles
Image: Mockup Graphics
We all have our fashion quirks, right? Some hate turtlenecks, others choose the quality of their shirts carefully, and others may pay attention to details like accessories.
It turns out that Albert Einstein also had a little quirk when it came to clothing, but it's probably not what you're expecting. In fact, Einstein didn’t pay much attention to clothes or fashion. However, there was one particular item he found totally annoying and useless: socks . It’s said that he often wore mismatched socks for several days in a row, and at one point, he simply stopped wearing socks altogether.
