Handwritten Einstein essay on theory of relativity goes under the hammer

Albert Einstein is – to put it mildly – a bit of a ledge so science fans will be interested to note that a handwritten essay by the granddaddy of modern physics is being flogged by Boston-based RR Auction. The auction house, which specializes in historical documents and autographs, says that the six-page essay is unsigned and …

[Primus Secundus Tertius]

Photoelectric effect

Einstein's famous contribution to atomic physics was his discussion of the photoelectric effect. He got a Nobel prize for it.

[Claptrap314]

Re: Photoelectric effect

Not so much. Alfred Nobel's famous antipathy towards mathematicians means that there is no Nobel prize for mathematics, and at the time, relativity was considered "too mathematical" for the physics prize. So...while the award was for the photoelectric effect, it was because of relativity...

[alain williams]

"The auction will end on April 11"

I do not think that Einstein said that we could move backwards in time.

Should that not be 11 May ?

[Excellentsword]

Re: "The auction will end on April 11"

Clearly I wrote this during amateur hour. Thank you, amended.

[The Oncoming Scorn]

Re: "The auction will end on April 11"

Unusual... for a journo, its usually during Happy Hour.

I'll get me coat!

[Anonymous Coward]

Once an NFT has been generated from the work, you might as well burn it.

Physical paper will turn to dust over time but an NFT is endless...

Is this a joke or am I an idiot? You will never know!

[Doctor Syntax]

"Objects of experience". A lovely term to keep for suitable occasions.

[Version 1.0]

Studying Einstein's work and his thinking about the events that he often either saw or predicted is wonderfully educational. I think his attitude to his work was wonderful (icon), in 1952 he said:

“I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious”

[ThePendragon]

Einstein was a plagiarist and fraud; the establishment is desperate for you not to read the facts about him :

https://web.archive.org/web/20170506153412/http://www.thebirdman.org/Index/Others/Others-Doc-Science&Forteana/+Doc-Science-Relativity&Einstein/EinsteinWasAFraud.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20100613190221/http://thebirdman.org/Index/Others/Others-Doc-Science&Forteana/+Doc-Science-Relativity&Einstein/EinsteinWasAFraud2.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20170606224213/http://www.thebirdman.org/Index/Others/Others-Doc-Science&Forteana/+Doc-Science-Relativity&Einstein/Doc-Science-Relativity&Einstein.htm

[Scott 26]

ok - I'll bite... who or what was thebirdman... using the wayback machine I found this: https://web.archive.org/web/20050601015156/http://www.thebirdman.org/

!!!!!! TOP 1/10 PERCENT OF ALL WEBSITES !!!!!

Yeah, I'll pass

[Youngone]

It seems to have originally been published in a magazine called "Nexus" which is a weird purveyor of pseudo-scientific nonsense.

I'm amazed that anyone believes any of it, but it's a weird world we live in.

[Doctor Syntax]

Is it a peer-reviewed journal? I suppose it may count itself as such in which case you have to worry about the peers.

[Francis Boyle]

Like the Batman but he got the dayshift which just isn't a lucrative for a vigilante fighter of insane criminals (most loonies only come out at night except on the internet) hence the slow descent into irrelevancy and madness.

[Youngone]

Your links include the following at the end: Extracted from Nexus Magazine.

That's the same Nexus Magazine that has an article about the "Scientific benefits of structured, living water" on the cover its current issue so you'll need to excuse me if I'm going to be sceptical of the claims made.

[Anonymous Coward]

“Einstein was a plagiarist”

Tosh

[fpx]

What a load of revisionist (neo-) Nazi crap.

I see that similar drivel was recently added to the English-language Wikipedia page for Friedrich Hasenöhrl.

The German-language Wikipedia page states, in part, in my translation, "the similarity of both formulas was used by proponents of nationalsocialistic German Physics to sow doubt about Einstein's originality. Max von Laue responded that while other authors before him applied the concept of inertia to electromagnetic energy, Einstein applied it universally for all kinds of energy."

[Triggerfish]

Hmmn racism from the outset, weird colour schemes, random USE OF CAPS.

Seems legit.

[deadlockvictim]

Be warned about these links

Not because of the contents (which while amusing are also anti-semitic & factually incorrect) but the layout: black background, neon green & yellow text, and, as a previous commentard as mentioned, indiscriminate use of all-caps.

This is sore on the eyes and gives one the impression that the writer had not had much sleep in the past 48 hours and was getting by on coffee, sugar or possibly something less legal.

It is a nice reminder of earlier days though.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

a 46-year-old check signed by none other than infamous Apple asshole Steve Jobs

Is a check/cheque from Twitter, signed by that other infamous asshole good for the value it is for? Will it bounce?

[Doctor Syntax]

"Will it bounce?"

The bank would refer you to the fact that the account holder isn't available to endorse it.

[Anonymous Coward]

oof how the article ends on a mean dark note.

[Francis Boyle]

Old wounds, mate, old wounds

There is no (body). The body is an illusion. Why don't you understand this Register.