In short
In 1905, a 26-year-old Albert Einstein published a paper in the German journal Annalen der Physik that fundamentally rewrote physics. His theory of special relativity proposed that space and time are interwoven, that nothing travels faster than light, and that mass and energy are interchangeable—encoded in the now-famous equation E=mc². It was the first domino in a cascade that would reshape how humans understand the universe.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The theory of relativity comprises two physics theories by Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity, proposed and published in 1905 and 1915, respectively. Special relativity applies to all physical phenomena in the absence of gravity. General relativity explains the law of gravitation and its relation to the forces of nature. It applies to the cosmological and astrophysical realm, including astronomy.
As it was happening
18 voices, 13334 days.
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Special Relativity Paper Submitted
Einstein submits 'Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper' (On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies) to Annalen der Physik, introducing special relativity and the constancy of the speed of light.
Voices from this moment (6)
Annalen der Physik
Jun 30
“Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper”
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Sep 15
“Ein junger Physiker stellt Newton in Frage”
Synthesized from period accounts - Editorial notes and scientific correspondence, 1905
Jul 1
“We publish a paper by an unknown young man from the…”
Synthesized from period accounts - Academic correspondence and lectures, 1905-1906
Sep 15
“Einstein's ideas are among the most revolutionary in the…”
2 more voices - captured but not shown in this slot.
As it was happening
18 voices, 13334 days.
Day 0 · June 30, 1905
Special Relativity Paper Submitted
Einstein submits 'Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper' (On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies) to Annalen der Physik, introducing special relativity and the constancy of the speed of light.
“Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper”
- Annalen der Physik, Jun 30
“Ein junger Physiker stellt Newton in Frage”
- Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Sep 15
“We publish a paper by an unknown young man from the…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Editorial notes and scientific correspondence, 1905, Jul 1
“Einstein's ideas are among the most revolutionary in the…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Academic correspondence and lectures, 1905-1906, Sep 15
“A man's life has meaning only insofar as it serves to…”
- Letters and philosophical writings, 1905-1906, Jun 30
“Einstein submits 'Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper' (On…”
- Special Relativity Paper Submitted, Jun 30
Day 89 · September 27, 1905
E=mc² Published
Einstein publishes a follow-up paper deriving the mass-energy equivalence formula, completing the theoretical foundation of special relativity.
“Continental Physicist Challenges Laws of Motion”
- The Times of London, Nov 20
“Un savant suisse remet en cause les lois de la physique…”
- Le Figaro, Oct 8
“Einstein publishes a follow-up paper deriving the…”
- E=mc² Published, Sep 27
Day 185 · January 1, 1906
Theory Begins Circulating in Physics Community
Einstein's 1905 papers begin gaining attention among European physicists, though acceptance is gradual and contested.
“This young man from Bern has given us a new conception of…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Royal Astronomical Society discussions, 1906, May 10
“The theory is mathematically elegant, but I confess I…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Physics society meetings and correspondence, 1906, Mar 20
“Einstein's 1905 papers begin gaining attention among…”
- Theory Begins Circulating in Physics Community, Jan 1
Day 550 · January 1, 1907
Einstein Begins Work on General Relativity
Einstein starts conceptualizing how to extend special relativity to include gravity, beginning an eight-year effort.
“Einstein starts conceptualizing how to extend special…”
- Einstein Begins Work on General Relativity, Jan 1
Day 2011 · January 1, 1911
Gravitational Lensing Predicted
Einstein predicts that gravity bends light, a consequence of general relativity still in development.
“Einstein predicts that gravity bends light, a consequence…”
- Gravitational Lensing Predicted, Jan 1
Day 3800 · November 25, 1915
General Relativity Published
Einstein publishes the field equations of general relativity, completing his theory of gravitation and spacetime curvature.
“Einstein publishes the field equations of general…”
- General Relativity Published, Nov 25
Day 5081 · May 29, 1919
Solar Eclipse Confirms Relativity
Arthur Eddington's expedition observes light bending around the sun during a total solar eclipse, providing experimental confirmation of general relativity and making Einstein world-famous.
“Arthur Eddington's expedition observes light bending around…”
- Solar Eclipse Confirms Relativity, May 29
Day 6007 · December 10, 1921
Nobel Prize Awarded
Einstein receives the Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded for the photoelectric effect rather than relativity (which remained controversial among some Nobel committee members).
“Einstein receives the Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded for…”
- Nobel Prize Awarded, Dec 10
Day 13334 · January 1, 1942
Nuclear Fission Applications Begin
Manhattan Project scientists apply E=mc² to develop nuclear weapons, demonstrating the devastating practical consequences of Einstein's theoretical work.
“Manhattan Project scientists apply E=mc² to develop nuclear…”
- Nuclear Fission Applications Begin, Jan 1
The numbers.
6 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Publication Year
0
Einstein's Age
0 years old
Number of Revolutionary Papers
0 published by Einstein in 1905 (photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, special relativity, mass-energy equivalence)
Speed of Light (c)
0,458 meters per second
General Relativity Published
0 (10 years after special relativity)
Nobel Prize for Photoelectric Effect
0 (not for relativity)
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: Annalen der Physik, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, The Times of London.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
4 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
Annalen der Physik
Magazine · Germany · Jun 30, 1905
"Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper"
DE: 'Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper' / EN: 'On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies'. Einstein's groundbreaking paper introducing special relativity appears in the German physics journal, proposing that the speed of light is constant in all inertial frames and challenging Newtonian mechanics.
- Sep 15, 1905
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Newspaper · Switzerland
"Ein junger Physiker stellt Newton in Frage"
Synthesized from period reporting - A young physics lecturer at the Polytechnic in Zurich has published a radical new theory on the nature of light and motion, causing tremors in the scientific establishment across Switzerland and beyond.
- Nov 20, 1905
The Times of London
Newspaper · United Kingdom
"Continental Physicist Challenges Laws of Motion"
Synthesized from period reporting - Scientific circles abroad report that a Swiss-based scholar has advanced a controversial thesis that questions fundamental principles established by Newton, suggesting space and time are not absolute but relative to the observer.
- Oct 8, 1905
Le Figaro
Newspaper · France
"Un savant suisse remet en cause les lois de la physique classique"
FR: 'Un savant suisse remet en cause les lois de la physique classique' / EN: 'A Swiss scholar challenges the laws of classical physics'. French newspapers take note of Einstein's radical propositions emerging from Bern, with speculation about implications for scientific thought.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
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Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Einstein's Theory of Relativity
en.wikipedia.org