Media Advisory 05-013
The World Year of Physics: 2005

New NSF Web site celebrates Einstein's 1905 achievements--and their results

NSF celebrates the World Year of Physics Credit and Larger Version

June 30, 2005

A century ago (on June 30, 1905), a 26-year-old patent clerk named Albert Einstein published a research paper about a principle he called relativity — and gave us a whole new way to think about light, matter, energy, space and time.  It was just one of four revolutionary research papers that Einstein published in 1905. Together, they laid the foundations for most of modern physics, in addition to microchips, lasers and other modern technologies.

To celebrate the centennial of relativity and to recognize the World Year of Physics, the National Science Foundation offers a new Special Report about Einstein's work. Some highlights:

• Explanations of what Einstein actually did in the 1905 papers — and why;
• Original animations to illustrate his insights into quantum theory, atomic physics, and relativity;
• An essay on his later career, and his impact on science as a whole;
• An interactive pictorial showing the many ways his work has affected modern technology.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
M. Mitchell Waldrop, NSF (703) 292-7752 mwaldrop@nsf.gov

Related Websites
NSF's World Year of Physics site: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/wyop/index.jsp
Main World Year of Physics 2005 site: http://www.physics2005.org/
American Institute of Physics' Einstein site: http://www.aip.org/history/einstein/
Time Magazine Person of the Century site: http://www.time.com/time/time100/poc/magazine/albert_einstein5a.html

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget was $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $593 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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