During his life, Albert Einstein transformed the world of physics. He was recognized countless times for his contributions to the sciences and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.

Born March 14, 1879, the German-born scientist was one of the most significant individuals of the 20th century.

In celebration of his birthday, here are 12 things you probably never knew about Albert Einstein.

1.He was offered the presidency of Israel -- and declined.:

Despite the generous offer, Einstein declined the presidency of Israel in 1952. In his reply, he said: "I am deeply moved by the offer from our State of Israel, and at once saddened and ashamed that I cannot accept it. All my life I have dealt with objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official functions."

Einstein died because he said no to life-saving surgery.:

On April 17, 1955, Einstein experienced an abdominal aortic aneurysm, resulting in internal bleeding. Upon being offered surgery, he said: "I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share, it is time to go. I will do it elegantly."

He died the following day.

His brain was illegally removed from his body and then lost for 50 years.:


Dr. Thomas Stolz Harvey was the doctor who carried out the autopsy of Einstein, but no paperwork was ever found assigning Harvey to the procedure. The autopsy was performed illegal.

Seven hours after Einstein's death, Harvey set about removing Einstein's brain -- despite his final wishes stating to be cremated with his brain intact -- and kept it for himself, but no one knows why.

Contrary to popular belief, he never failed math.


In 1935, the "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!" newspaper published an article headlined "Greatest living mathematician failed in mathematics," and the claim is still passed around to this day.

Einstein never failed math. He was shown the article and laughed: "I never failed in mathematics. Before I was 15 I had mastered differential and integral calculus."

The young Einstein was actually at the top of most of his classes and far exceeded the expectations of his teachers.

Mr.lalasticlala calculate how long for this article to make FP

He had a daughter with his first wife, but there's no official record of what happened to her.


Liersel Einstein was the first child of Albert and his first wife, Mileva Maric. The only record of Liersel is in correspondence letters between her parents.

She was born out of wedlock in January 1902 and was not spoken of much. She's thought to have died September 1903 from scarlet fever.

Liersel is believed to have been born with mental disabilities and was last mentioned in a letter from Albert to Mileva, dated September 19, 1903, which suggested they were planning on giving her up for adoption before her death. "As what is the child registered?" asked Einstein. "We must take precautions that problems don't arise for her later."

All the money from the prize went to his first wife as a divorce settlement.


As part of the divorce settlement, the couple agreed that the money from the prize he anticipated he would win would go into a savings account for their sons, Hans and Eduard.

The money was eventually used to buy three houses in Zurich -- one for Mileva to live in, and two others as investments.

His eyes remain in a safe box in NYC.


Not only did the doctor who illegally performed Einstein's autopsy steal his brain, he also stole his eyes. He gave the eyes to Einstein's eye doctor, Henry Abrams. They are kept in a safety deposit box in New York City to this day.


He was the inspiration for Yoda.

Stuart Freeborn, the movie makeup artist who created Yoda, modelled the jedi's face on his own, but added wrinkles inspired by Einstein to Yoda's eyes to denote wisdom and intelligence.


One of Einstein's most famous quotes is completely misinterpreted.


"God does not play dice with the universe" is one of Einstein's most famous and somewhat cryptic quotes.

His reference to God often causes people to assume he was religious -- he wasn't. He was using God as a metaphor. In a letter he wrote in 1954, he said:

"I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it."

And when Einstein said "does not play dice," he was referring to the unpredictable nature of subatomic particles in quantum physics.

In short, the quote aims to outline how weird quantum mechanics is as a theory. You can read more on Tech Insider.

Einstein's main passion wasn't science.

Despite all his other talents and achievements, music was what made Einstein happiest. He never traveled without his violin and once said: "Life without playing music is inconceivable for me. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. I get most joy in life out of music.”

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/272437

I respect this guy... After him is me Aristotle96

nice.

Aristotle96:
I respect this guy... After him is me Aristotle96

Awesome !!!!

Cool

***For my Mind*** "Person go talk about me lyk diz in next 30 years 4rm now"

But i nid to work

Where though o ye lalasticlala , come and honour This guy now!

Modified



I knew this is a FP material...

tsamson:
Where though o ye lalasticlala , come and honour This guy now!

topics like this rarely make fb... Until I kill one anaconda and wrap it around my neck, that's when I'll have a chance of getting to fp lol

Endtime physicist

Seems science section doesn't have any moderator.

Lalasticlala, where art thou, come and see Albert Einstein, the snake killer

Okorieikechukwu:
Seems science section doesn't have any moderator.

Lalasticlala, where art thou, come and see Albert Einstein, the snake killer

UjSizzle and mkmyers45 are the science and technology section moderators don't know if the left lala to do the work all alone

ElDaIllest:
UjSizzle and mkmyers45 are the science and technology section moderators don't know if the left lala to do the work all alone

Maybe there are not payed well and are yet to resign. This section is the most neglected section on nairaland.

Seun, Lalasticlala, I can do the work of this moderators effectively and efficiently. we need help here.

ElDaIllest:
UjSizzle and mkmyers45 are the science and technology section moderators don't know if the left lala to do the work all alone

A good portion of what is done here is based on personal judgement, so if you have a topic you think should make homepage, mention a mod and we'll put it up in the suggestion thread (and let the supermods decide if it's homepage worthy.)
That will be a lot more effective than the utterly unnecessary conversation you're having now.

Refusing to be the president of Israel was quite admirable. I cannot think of any Nigerian who would own up to lacking the necessary skills needed to rule a nation.

SALUTE!!!

if Einstein was Nigerian

Okorieikechukwu:

Maybe there are not payed well and are yet to resign. This section is the most neglected section on nairaland.
Seun, Lalasticlala, I can do the work of this moderators effectively and efficiently. we need help here.

The most popular thread on naira land is the celebrity section.. Its quite sad and unfair that cool sections concerning stuff like art science and/or things that actually matter are not given adequate attention

. His birthday was 13th. Nah today this thread reach fp? Lol

Einstein is synonymous with "Genius"

This man was an ACADEMIC MESSIAH... He came and solved age-long scientific problems, the whole world is still enjoying his solutions till today. BUT he also left us with greater problems which academic dons are still battling with today. HBD to this white wizard...

Tell me something!!!





So, Nairaland can be educative after all

I drew him.

My uncle

there should have been a picture of a young Einstein.
everytime I see him, he's already old.

Happy birthday!