Einstein, Albert twentieth century science

Albert Einstein s 1905 work on the photoelectric effect paved the way for one of the greatest advances of twentieth-century science, the theory of quantum mechanics. Light had always been regarded as a wave. Quantum mechanics introduced the concept of light being transmitted in wave packets, or photons, that have particle-like qualities as well as wave-like qualities. 

Writing in 2005, the centenary of the three famous publications by Albert Einstein which marked a turning point in early twentieth century science, it seemed appropriate in this review to consider some of the major trends in early twenty-first century molecular science and the contribution of many-body perturbation theory to their study. 

Chemical kinetics, the subject of this chapter, evolved from an art into a science in the first half of the twentieth century. One person more than any other was responsible for that change Henry Eyring. Born in a Mormon settlement in Mexico, Henry immigrated to Arizona with his parents in 1912, when the Mexican revolution broke out. Many years later, he became a U.S, citizen, appearing before a Judge who had just naturalized Albert Einstein. 

All modern science is predicated on the philosophical assumption that its subject is comprehensible. Although even Albert Einstein remarked that this is the most incomprehensible thing about the universe, it is difficult to see how this can be a question for scientific debate. The presumption of discoverable regularities, not meaningless chaos, is a necessary underpinning of any scientific endeavor. Although twentieth-century quantum mechanics has compelled reappraisal of earlier determinism, the work of physicists is founded upon belief in objective laws correlating observations of natural phenomena and confirmed by successful predictions. 

---