Was Einstein Right?
Unlike nearly all his contemporaries, Albert Einstein thought quantum mechanics would give way to a classical theory. Some researchers nowadays are inclined to agree
Features
A Cosmic Conundrum
A new incarnation of Einstein's cosmological constant may point the way beyond general relativity
Einstein and Newton: Genius Compared
The two scientific giants were alike in intellect and temperament
The Sciences
The Patent Clerk's Legacy
In 1905 the musings of a functionary in the Swiss patent office changed the world forever. His intellectual bequest remains for a new generation of physicists vying to concoct a theory of everything
Atomic Spin-offs for the 21st Century
A new generation of technologies aims to put Einstein's theories to work in computers, hospitals--even submarines
Einstein's Compass
What was it about the magnetism of an iron bar that could divert Einstein from perfecting his celebrated theory of general relativity?
The Sciences
Forces of the World, Unite!
In a 1950 Scientific American article, Einstein outlined his unified theory of physics. Too bad it was wrong
The Search for Relativity Violations
To uncover evidence for an ultimate theory, scientists are looking for infractions of Einstein's once sacrosanct physical principle
Everyday Einstein
Finding your way out of the woods with GPS? Hanging a picture frame with a laser level? Making photocopies? Better thank Einstein
The String Theory Landscape
The theory of strings predicts that the universe might occupy one random "valley" out of a virtually infinite selection of valleys in a vast landscape of possibilities
A Century of Einstein
Scientific American has covered Einstein's theories--and the refinements and reactions to them--ever since scientists began to grasp the import of his landmark 1905 papers. Read on for a sampling of our reports, some by leading physicists of their times
Departments
- Letters
Letters
Erratum
- Advances
Nipah's Return
Piecing the Past
Chemical Conversations
Paleolithic Pensioners
Cracked Caloric Counter
Location, Location, Location
No Place Like Home
Full Entangled House
Ringed Up
- Recommended
Existential Terroir in Northern California
- Skeptic
Mustangs, Monists and Meaning
- Anti Gravity
Terror Bull
- 50, 100 & 150 Years Ago
Prolific Stars -- Clever Horse -- Busy Worms
- Perspectives
Einstein = Man of Conscience2
- In Brief
Data Points: September 2004
Brief Points: September 2004
- Voyages
Hiking Underground
- By the Numbers
Oil Haves and Have-Nots
- Working Knowledge
String Theory
- Insights
Superhot among the Ultracool
- Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts, September 2004