NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / Technology News / The eccentricities of Einstein: Could you learn something from them?
    The eccentricities of Einstein: Could you learn something from them?
    Technology

    The eccentricities of Einstein: Could you learn something from them?

    Written by Gogona Saikia
    June 18, 2017 | 04:02 pm 3 min read
    The eccentricities of Einstein: Could you learn something from them?

    Genius is not a result of genetics alone. What you do every day contributes significantly to your bodily development, including the brain's. In fact, latest research has found that the environment makes up for 40% of the difference between intelligent and non-intelligent people. Many great minds had their quirks, but probably none more so than Einstein (1879-1955), who developed his own weird habits.

    Just to refresh your mind about what Einstein gave us…

    Born in Germany, Einstein gave us the Theory of Relativity and contributed to Quantum Mechanics, both of which played major roles in the development of modern physics. He came up with the mass-energy equivalence formula (E=mc2), which is arguably one of the biggest achievements in science. In 1921, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

    Formula 1: 10-hour sleep and regular naps

    Einstein supposedly discovered the Relativity Theory while dreaming. Whether it is true or not, but scientists discovered that in sleep, the mind can have groundbreaking-insights. In sleep, the brain enters Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM modes. About 60% is the latter. Every night, you have thousands of bursts in brain activity during non-REM sleep. More sleep means more such bursts, meaning greater 'fluid-intelligence'.

    Fluid intelligence was bursting out of Einstein

    Fluid intelligence determines an individual's ability to solve new and unique problems with insight and logic. It isn't related to other types of intelligence like memory. Not surprising, Einstein shunned formal education and vouched for never memorizing "anything which you can look up".

    Formula 2: Three miles of walks everyday

    While working at Princeton University, Einstein made sure he walked 1.5 miles everyday and back. During walking, one is likely to experience 'transient hypofrontality': the toning down of brain activity, particularly the frontal lobes. During this phase, the brain functions differently, increasing possibility of a 'eureka' moment that has eluded you otherwise. There's no conclusive evidence for this though.

    Formula 3: Spaghetti!

    Einstein once joked that his favorite things about Italy were "spaghetti and (mathematician) Levi-Civita". The brain, which accounts for only 2% of body weight, consumes 20% of energy. However, it can't store energy, so it runs out when blood glucose levels drop. Spaghetti can help here, but in certain amounts. Forty strands give 25g of carbohydrates, but double that might impair ability to think.

    Formula 4: Einstein loved his pipes

    Einstein smoked pipes. A lot. In his defence, use of tobacco wasn't linked to cancer and other illnesses till after his death. We now know it stops formation of brain cells, leads to oxygen deficit in the brain, and more. But surprisingly, a study of 20,000 American adolescents found more intelligent children smoked more cigarettes, more frequently. An opposite trend was seen in UK.

    Formula 5: No socks!

    This is something we still have no clue about: Einstein didn't wear socks, since in his childhood, his "big toe always ends up making a hole in a sock". Research vouches for the opposite: casual outfits are linked to poorer performance on abstract thinking tests.

    The 'weird and crazy' wasn't limited to Einstein

    It's not just Einstein though. Physicist Nikola Tesla had his toe exercises: according to author Marc J Seifer, Tesla would 'squish' his toes, 100 times for each foot, every night. he said it helped energize his brain cells. For Isaac Newton, celibacy was the keyword. Then there's Benjamin Franklin, America's Founding Father, who took naked 'air baths': stripping and exposing himself to air.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Formula 1
    Albert Einstein
    Nikola Tesla
    Benjamin Franklin

    Formula 1

    F1: Sebastian Vettel beats Lewis Hamilton to Bahrain title Motor Sports
    Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi GP; Rosberg F1 title Lewis Hamilton
    Audi to join Formula 1 in 2026 as PU supplier Audi
    Formula 1, Max Verstappen wins the Belgian GP: Key stats Carlos Sainz

    Albert Einstein

    Einstein's letters to be auctioned in Jerusalem Jerusalem
    Indian boy Arnav Sharma beats Einstein in IQ test Stephen Hawking
    The eccentricities of Einstein: Could you learn something from them? Germany
    Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to three US gravitational-wave scientists Physics

    Nikola Tesla

    Elon Musk, the Nikola Tesla of our generation Tesla
    Naidu discusses bilateral cooperation in trade, defense with Serbian President Venkaiah Naidu
    In 2018, 109 babies were named 'Tesla' Bentley
    Happy Birthday Nikola Tesla, the greatest inventor in history Tesla

    Benjamin Franklin

    Michael Douglas signs his next, a series on Benjamin Franklin Michael Douglas
    Next News Article

    Love Technology News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    Science Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023