• Question: In your opinion, what was Einstein's greatest achievement?

    Asked by rhooper821 to Ben, Dave, Ed, Sam, Susana on 25 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Sam Horrell

      Sam Horrell answered on 25 Jun 2013:


      He was a really great scientist and changed the face of physics that’s for sure.

      You could pick anything from his theory of relativity, showing how to calculate avagadro’s number, the wave theory of light, brownian motion. The list just goes on and on.

      Did you know he was the first to actually study why the sky was blue and published the answer in 1910?

    • Photo: David Briggs

      David Briggs answered on 25 Jun 2013:


      There is no doubt that he revolutionised physics – but I think what he did best was to bring science into the public eye. He was a celebrity scientist, and lots more people learnt about physics because of him.

    • Photo: Benjamin Hall

      Benjamin Hall answered on 26 Jun 2013:


      Becoming a household name as a scientist. Very few people achieve that kind of recognition.

    • Photo: Susana Teixeira

      Susana Teixeira answered on 27 Jun 2013:


      He had major contributions in many areas, but I think the theory of relativity as a whole is a fantastic achievement. What impresses me most about him though, is that he dared to challenge theories that were accepted at the time, and not only that but also come up with others that go against our instinctive ways of thinking 🙂

      It was a bit like when Copernicus said the Earth was not the center of the Universe… it was against our self-centered instincts and guesses, but the facts speak for themselves and so he got very famous too.

      So yes scientists need to be skeptical and curious and intelligent, but self confidence is important too!

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