Retrace the thought experiments that inspired his theory on the nature of reality. (Premiered November 25, 2015) Official Website: https://to.pbs.org/4nTCfJk | #novapbs On November 25th, 1915, Einstein published his greatest work: general relativity. The theory transformed our understanding of nature’s laws and the entire history of the cosmos, reaching back to the origin of time itself. NOVA tells the inside story of Einstein’s masterpiece. The story begins with the intuitive thought experiments that set Einstein off on his quest and traces the revolution in cosmology that is still playing out in today’s labs and observatories. Discover the simple but powerful ideas at the heart of relativity, illuminating the theory—and Einstein’s brilliance—as never before. From the first spark of an idea to the discovery of the expanding universe, the Big Bang, black holes, and dark energy, NOVA uncovers the inspired insights and brilliant breakthroughs of “the perfect theory.” 💙 Help us bring the universe closer to home. Your donation ensures that NOVA’s deep-space discoveries and quantum physics explorations remain free and inspiring for the next generation of scientists. Support fact-based storytelling today. https://bit.ly/48UnsrD Chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:12 Einstein's Early Years 18:29 The Concept of Spacetime 24:40 Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity 34:25 The Fame and Legacy of Einstein’s Theory 42:25 Black Holes, Dark Energy and Gravitational Waves 48:50 Conclusion #einstein #documentary #physics © 2015 WGBH Educational Foundation All rights reserved This program was produced by GBH, which is solely responsible for its content. This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station here: https://pbs.org/donate/ Enjoy full episodes of your favorite PBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2QbtzhR Einstein documentary, albert einstein documentary, gravity, thought experiments, Theory of Special Relativity, physics documentary, space time continuum, atomic clock experiment, dark energy 📰 Stay up to date on the latest science discoveries, full episodes, articles, videos, and more by signing up for NOVA's newsletter here: https://to.pbs.org/4brCC7Y 🛍️ Shop official NOVA 50th anniversary merch: https://nova-shop.org/ FOLLOW US: NOVA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/novaonline Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NOVApbs X: https://twitter.com/novapbs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novapbs/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCjHz5SVHeMT0AViCYZvsGDA PBS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PBS/ X: https://twitter.com/PBS/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PBS/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/PBS/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCgyeJxD05YnoDquRMNBfBqw
ADVERTISEMENT
Release the Einstein files!
Not comparing myself to Einstein in any way, other than I did well in science and skipped classes I deemed unnecessary in school, only to be caught in the school library studying animal behavior and biology. Luckily, the librarian liked me and told me to hide in the back and read my books. I barely graduated high school but went on to college and became a marine biologist. Thank you Mrs. Nolan. (The best librarian ever, saved my life)
Amazing that back in 2015, we had not measured gravitational waves and today, we have now detected them. Less than 10 years. My friends, we are learning so much today so quickly.
I like that Einstein knew that something was wrong with his equations and kept correcting himself with the determination to get his theory right.
I bet I've watched this documentary 10 times since 2015. Will I watch it again? Yep.
I know this documentary is 10 years old, but it really missed a chance to dive into Einstein's role in quantum physics, he essentially started it and carried the torch for 20 years.
Glad to watch this again. Thanks, Nova!
It brings happiness and peace to me to know that there are, still, humans out there who understand these things and live their lives trying to understand even more.
In the photo of Einstein as a young boy with about fifty classmates, he seems to be the only one smiling, as if to be thinking, "I know something that no one else knows."
I understand the focus on relativity, but one of Einstein's first papers was on the photoelectric effect, an early part of quantum mechanics.
I wish they would list each episodes Season and episode number in the description. The date doesn't help when I'm searching on the PBS app to watch it on my TV. Lifelong LOVE of Nova! Truly the best thing I saw come through our rabbit ears in the early 90s!
Cool NOVA, now do Nikola Tesla. 😜
💙 Love diving deep into the mysteries of the universe? Your support is the fuel behind every frame of NOVA. While the content is free, the rigorous, peer-reviewed science storytelling behind it is powered by you. Help us keep high-quality science accessible to everyone, everywhere. /4cP0nZU
Hey NOVA, if you haven't done so already, could you make a similar video about Nicola Tesla? l only somewhat recently found this channel an l love it.
I met a self taught mathematician, James “Heart Trouble” Murray, in prison. He designed a machine on paper that [physicists] came into the prison to examine his idea but left and never gave him feedback. I minored in mathematics at the Virginia Commonwealth University from ‘77 to’83. Math altered my criminal life. I told the manager of the International Student Center in New York that I studied mathematics to become a better criminal. He said, “You succeeded.” Actually I read and studied psychology of abnormal and deviant behavior, general and, human development, a prison class on sociology 101, and became a grammarian that allowed the manager of the prison print shop to assign me as the proofreader there, where state documents were printed. Finally upon release from prison, I attended VCU and got an undergraduate degree in mass communications and a minor in mathematics. I am still trying to learn calculus.
I don't know if anyone else has pointed this out, but it's my understanding that the LIGO experiment has detected gravity waves, providing yet another proof of Einstein's theories. Maybe this special could be updated? Or maybe PBS could add a link to an update?
“Oh look there’s a dead squirrel “ LMFAO
Einstein was an exceptional phenomea in the use of the human brain.
This was brought to you by viewers like me. You're welcome.
Godness gracious, if Einstein had the tools of today's world, what could he have done?