Einstein - Advancement of Science

Below is an excerpt from a message Einstein sent to the forty-second meeting of the "Societa Italiana per il Progresse de la Scienze," Lucca (Italy), 1950. Published in English in the UNESCO periodical, Impact, Autumn, 1950.

Einstein - Interviewers

Although this was written in 1934, it is as applicable today as it was then; sadly the general practices of interviewers/journalists have yet to evolve the conduct of their profession.

Einstein - E=mc2 Videos

Below are a collection of videos on Einstein's famous formula E=mc2. 


This first video is an excerpt from the movie "E=mc2 Einstein's Big Idea", this film is a docu-drama, providing an interesting account on the history, the individuals who contributed to the development of the equation and the process of Einstein's discovery. Although the video quality isn't great, the audio will give you a nice teaser.

This next video is a short on the book "Why Does E=mc2" with Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw...I like these guys. Check out his link...

 

This video gives some interesting points on the principles of the formula, with some animation.

And for those of you who want to have a deeper understanding Professor Hitoshi Murayama (this link may offer a better quality video), he is the Director of the Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe in Tokyo. Prof Murayama's lecture on the equation is upbeat and is great for the layman, as he uses common everyday examples to explain the concepts and principles of the equation.

Einstein - E=mc2

One of the most famous known formulas is Einstein's E=mc2 to hypothesize that Energy and Mass were equivalents during the turn of the century was an monumental advancement in science.

Einstein - Russell-Einstein Manifesto

Einstein's Last Public Act-
The manifesto was released to the press on July 9, 1955. It calls not just for a reduction of nuclear weapons, but for humanity to find a way to avoid war in general, since "in any future world war nuclear weapons would certainly be used." It was signed by ten scientists of global renown; but it was Einstein, and his death, that gave it the greatest power. Russell described it as "the last public act of Einstein's life."

Further reading; The Origin of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, Remember your Humanity-McMaster University

Einstein - On the Abolition of the Threat of War

In a conversation Einstein had with Linus Pauling, he mentioned “I made one great mistake in my life... when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made; but there was some justification - the danger that the Germans would make them.”

In seeing this quote, and the letter to FDR, I wondered what Einstein's thoughts and questions may have been when he deliberated this decision to sign the letter. This was a time in history, when humanity was subjugated beyond anything it had ever known, the crisis of war made an easy catalyst to pursue the technological advancements of arms. Humanity was pitted against survival in a difficult wager for life. 

The signing of this letter was a significant event in history and for Einstein, as he made it his life work to actively pursue a campaign for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

As with Pauling a noble prize recipient for Chemistry, he was known as a courageous champion of peace and civil liberties.

Einstein - Video History Channel

Einstein - Curiousity

Einstein - Self Portrait

In commemoration and tribute to Einstein on his birthday this March 14th, a short little essay he titled Self-Portrait seemed quite appropriate.

Einstein - Purpose

Einstein - Morality

Einstein - The Born-Einstein Letters; Einstein's Reply Sept 1944

With each letter, quote and essay I read of Einstein, I humbly strive to feel the insides of his shoes, little by little I'm gaining a sense of this extraorindary man. In Einstein's reply to Born's July 1944 letter and excerpts below of Born's commentary, it takes more courage than intellect to bear the fruits of ethics. It is an earnest and sometimes lonely pursuit to keep the flag waving whatever the weather or conditions; the problem upholding a standard for the science profession is a human problem.  Much like the quote by John F. Kennedy, found on the Dalai Lama event site I attended; "Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings".

Excerpt of Born's Commentary:

In those days we beleived in the triumph of reason, of the 'brain'. We had yet to learn that it is not the brain which controls human beings but the spinal cord--seat of the instincts and of blind passions. Even scientists are no exception to this.

Einstein did not think much of an 'ethical code'. The words contained in this letter about Bohr, about 'the feeling for what ought to be, and ought not to', and about the role of the individual in the society of cynics, are of profound wisdom.

Einstein - Nature and Mathematics

Einstein - The Born-Einstein Letters; Comment Born's 1944 Letter

The Born-Einstein Letters is a compilation of over 100 letters between Born and Einstein from 1916 - 1955; we as observers, are given a unique privilege to read the personal letters of these extraordinary men who were and still are pillars of science; giving us an informal dialogue as they question and expand their discoveries of science, the emotional and personal challenges of war and their Jewish heritage, the bantering of friends, and more importantly,  the social responsibility of what it means to hold the post as a scientist.

This particular letter by Born written around the age of 62, speaks as a witness to the unspeakable acts occurring in the war, where the science he was so much a part of aided in this destruction, with an urgent plea to his trusted colleague and dear friend for a definitive plan to formulate a standard of ethics for this profession.

In the commentary of this particular letter, Born continues…

In writing about the responsibility of the scientist I have said more than once that the news of Hiroshima affected the issue decisively. This is true in so far as a new situation existed from that day on. It was no longer merely a question of ethics, whether political differences can ever justify technical mass murder, but of the continued existence of civilization itself, perhaps even of life on the earth. This letter shows that the ethical question, and the abhorrence of war waged with technical means, had been occupying me for a long time.

Einstein - The Born-Einstein Letters; Max Born July 1944



Einstein - The Born-Einstein Letters Foreward

Excerpt from Preface by Diana Buchwald and Kip S. Thorne

Born, Einstein and Bertrand  Russell shared a passion for humanitarian causes. Russell and Born came to know each other well during the war, while Einstein and Russell became close associates in many actions on behalf of nuclear disarmament and international cooperation after the war. They exchanged some 30 letters between 1931 and 1955 including Einstein's last know letter, written only a week before his death on 18 April 1955.

Einstein - Music

Einstein - Social Responsibility in Science

Einstein - Nature

Einstein - Physicists as Philosophers?

Einstein - Interdependence