Of everything I know in science, the most extraordinary achievement is that made by Albert Einstein in 1905. That year is referred to as the miracle year by physicists. Einstein deduced the special theory of relativity, and wrote [math]E=mc^2[/math] for the first time (although he used different symbols). He deduced the existence of photons from the photoelectric effect (although he called them quanta; the term photon came later). He was able to explain the mysterious Brownian motion as due to the true existence of atoms, which up until then had only been a postulate; he is given credit for convincing physicists that atoms were real. All in the year 1905!
Within the next 10 years, Einstein came up with the general theory of relativity, which is still our fundamental theory of gravity and central to our understanding of cosmology and black holes.
And shortly after that he deduced that in quantum theory there must be another previously unanticipated mechanism he called "stimulated emission." (This was the basis for the maser/laser invented by Charles Townes in 1953. Laser is an acronym standing for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation -- thus incorporating Einstein's term.)
In 2000, Time Magazine cited Albert Einstein as the "Man of the Century". Few disputed that award.
Read other answers by Richard Muller on Quora:
- How much better off would the world be without humans?
- How can I make sure that those wrongdoers suffer as much the pain as they inflicted in my life?
from Quora http://ift.tt/1kRCFig
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