How Did Albert Einstein Die? Facts About His Last Days and Death


 

On April 18, 1955, Albert Einstein passed away at the Princeton Hospital. Without Einstein’s family’s consent, a pathologist removed his brain in April 1955, soon after his passing, and kept it in formaldehyde until roughly 2007, just before passing away.

The man’s brain, which is credited with some of the most creative and innovative thoughts in all of science, was photographed during that period and then divided into small pieces that were distributed to various researchers. His ophthalmologist was given access to his eyes, it’s obvious that his life is worth exploring, read through the article and learn more about his last days and death. 

1. He passed away from an aneurysm in 1955

How Did Albert Einstein Die? Facts About His Last Days and Death

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Due to an abdominal aortic aneurysm, Einstein experienced internal bleeding (the largest artery in the abdomen). Einstein declined surgery when doctors offered to extend his life he said  鈥淚 want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share; it is time to go. I will do it elegantly.鈥

At the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in New Jersey, Albert Einstein passed away on April 18, 1955. The talented physicist, who was 76 years old at the time of his death, apparently continued to work up until the final hours of his life.

2. Just after Albert Einstein passed away, Thomas Stoltz Harvey took his brain

Of all the shocking and controversial truths about Albert Einstein, this is possibly the most surprising. The pathologist Thomas Stoltz Harvey oversaw the autopsy following Albert Einstein’s passing in 1955. Without the approval of his family, Harvey removed Einstein’s eyes and brain in an effort to help neuroscientists understand what made him so brilliant.

He saved the brain, divided it into 170 parts, and sent some of the fragments to pathologists and particular neuroscientists for study. The project was eventually allowed to continue by Einstein’s family after they learnt about it, but they stipulated that it should not be sensationalised in the media.

3. His brain was a bit different from the normal brain

The size and weight of Einstein’s brain were confirmed by studies to be within normal ranges. There were several differences from the normal brain, though. For instance, the part of the brain in charge of processing numbers and spatial information was proportionally larger than usual.

He had more glial cells in his brain than average boys, according to some research. These cells are in charge of feeding the brain and producing myelin, which helps neurons transmit electrical signals more quickly.

4. His last words were in German

How Did Albert Einstein Die? Facts About His Last Days and Death

, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Famously lost in translation, Albert Einstein’s dying words will always be a mystery. He whispered a few German phrases in his dying moments. Sadly, the accompanying nurse did not speak German, so she was unable to grasp what the great scientist was saying.

5. Several of the famous quotes credited to Albert Einstein were made up

It’s no secret that Albert Einstein was a bright guy whose contributions to science and history continue to be recognized today. Despite the fact that his final words remain a mystery, many of them are now remembered as well-known phrases. Unfortunately, many of the quotations that bear his name weren’t actually said by him.

Some of these misattributed quotations are 鈥淵ou do not understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.鈥, 鈥淚 fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction.鈥, and 鈥淓veryone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.鈥

6. On his 72nd birthday, Einstein took a photo with his tongue out

How Did Albert Einstein Die? Facts About His Last Days and Death

, , via Wikimedia Commons

One of Einstein’s most iconic images is the one in which he displays his silly side, the one in which he smiles and sticks his tongue out. The photo was taken on Einstein’s 72nd birthday on March 14, 1951.

(UPI) photographer Arthur Sasse. Einstein chose to put his tongue out instead of smiling as he had already grinned for several photographers that day. The image captured Einstein’s attention, and he requested nine copies from UPI for his own use. He autographed one copy for a reporter, and the signed image fetched $74,324 in 2009.

7. Einstein was cremated 

Following the autopsy, the body was transferred to a crematorium in Trenton, New Jersey, where it was momentarily buried in a funeral home before being cremated. Later, the late professor from Princeton’s ashes were scattered over the campus.

8. He left a will

How Did Albert Einstein Die? Facts About His Last Days and Death

, , via Wikimedia Commons

 He named Dr. Otto Nathan and Helen Dukas, his secretary, as executors of his will. The heirs included his two sons, Hans Albert and Eduard, as well as his stepdaughter Margot. The Hebrew University in Jerusalem received all of his written works as a gift, and they are still on display there in the Albert Einstein Archives.

Even as his health deteriorated in his final days, Einstein’s intellectual curiosity and desire for knowledge remained. Although the exact words he spoke before passing away may never be known, his reputation as a great physicist and humanitarian lives on. The extraordinary influence one person can have on the world is demonstrated by Einstein’s contributions to science and his dedication to advancing social justice and peace.

 

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are聽础尘补锄辞苍’蝉听产别蝉迟-蝉别濒濒颈苍驳聽travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 –听
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 –听

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack –听
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage –听
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle聽–听

We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.