In this episode, Einstein's long search for the proof his theory of relativity comes to fruition. But it is a bittersweet moment for him as the Nobel Prize is awarded to Max Planck in physics and Fritz Haber in chemistry. The Great War, which has made use of Haber's experimental poison gas, finally comes to an end in 1919. But it is during this tumultuous period that "one of the most resplendent achievements of human thought" is due to the tenacity of Albert Einstein.
In intense personal competition with his fellow scientist David Hilbert, Einstein is devastated when learning that Hilbert completed the final calculation: "He's defeated me," laments Einstein. But in another one of his brilliant thought experiments, Einstein realizes that Hilbert made an error. He rejoices, completes the calculations himself, and receives credit for proving his own theory.
In a subplot, Einstein's good friend Fritz Haber has made stunning discoveries in the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas. The implications were unprecedented for food production and the survival of the human race. But Haber was also working closely with the German military in the manufacture of poisonous gasses used in World War I. In one of the most shocking scenes of the series, Faber's wife Clara, who was also a good friend of Einstein, is so appalled by her husband's work that takes her life.
Indeed, Einstein agreed with Clara that the uses of noxious gasses and chemical warfare were crimes against humanity. As Einstein succinctly remarks, "Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." Such a realization also comes to Einstein's friend Max Planck when he learns of the death of his young son during the war. In the fog of war, "right and wrong become blurred." The filmmakers offer a gruesome demonstration of the release of Haber's poison gas during a battle with the resulting carnage of bodies scattered on the ground at the Second Battle of Ypres through "the death cloud."
By Armistice Day, November 7, 1919, the program addresses once again the personal life of Einstein. Maleva still refuses to give Einstein a divorce, raising the concerns of Elsa, who is cohabiting with her "cousin." It is clear as well that the troubled family life has taken a toll on the little boy Eduard.
By this time, Elsa's live-in lover is becoming a household name when Sir Arthur Eddington verifies Einstein's theory during an eclipse: "Gravity bends light passing next to the sun by approximately 1.7 arc seconds, just as Einstein predicted." At this point, it was becoming clear in the scientific community that Newton's laws must be reconsidered, due to the breakthrough discoveries of Einstein.
At the Prussian Academy in 1919, Einstein congratulates his friend Planck, as well as Fritz Haber, both of whom were awarded Nobel Prizes. Still, Einstein candidly tells Haber about his abhorrent uses of poison gas that "life cannot be balanced like an equation." In postwar Germany, antisemitism is on the rise with Dr. Lenard joining with "Einstein killer" Paul Weyland to defame Einstein and his ideas. In a packed lecture at Philharmonic Hall in Berlin, Einstein is attendance to defend himself against Weyland's contention that relativity is a "hoax" and that the public has been "hoodwinked." While Einstein goes on the attack, writing to officials in the newly formed Weimar government, Elsa recognizes that men like Weyland and Lenard are dangerous in the current climate.
In intense personal competition with his fellow scientist David Hilbert, Einstein is devastated when learning that Hilbert completed the final calculation: "He's defeated me," laments Einstein. But in another one of his brilliant thought experiments, Einstein realizes that Hilbert made an error. He rejoices, completes the calculations himself, and receives credit for proving his own theory.
In a subplot, Einstein's good friend Fritz Haber has made stunning discoveries in the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas. The implications were unprecedented for food production and the survival of the human race. But Haber was also working closely with the German military in the manufacture of poisonous gasses used in World War I. In one of the most shocking scenes of the series, Faber's wife Clara, who was also a good friend of Einstein, is so appalled by her husband's work that takes her life.
Indeed, Einstein agreed with Clara that the uses of noxious gasses and chemical warfare were crimes against humanity. As Einstein succinctly remarks, "Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." Such a realization also comes to Einstein's friend Max Planck when he learns of the death of his young son during the war. In the fog of war, "right and wrong become blurred." The filmmakers offer a gruesome demonstration of the release of Haber's poison gas during a battle with the resulting carnage of bodies scattered on the ground at the Second Battle of Ypres through "the death cloud."
By Armistice Day, November 7, 1919, the program addresses once again the personal life of Einstein. Maleva still refuses to give Einstein a divorce, raising the concerns of Elsa, who is cohabiting with her "cousin." It is clear as well that the troubled family life has taken a toll on the little boy Eduard.
By this time, Elsa's live-in lover is becoming a household name when Sir Arthur Eddington verifies Einstein's theory during an eclipse: "Gravity bends light passing next to the sun by approximately 1.7 arc seconds, just as Einstein predicted." At this point, it was becoming clear in the scientific community that Newton's laws must be reconsidered, due to the breakthrough discoveries of Einstein.
At the Prussian Academy in 1919, Einstein congratulates his friend Planck, as well as Fritz Haber, both of whom were awarded Nobel Prizes. Still, Einstein candidly tells Haber about his abhorrent uses of poison gas that "life cannot be balanced like an equation." In postwar Germany, antisemitism is on the rise with Dr. Lenard joining with "Einstein killer" Paul Weyland to defame Einstein and his ideas. In a packed lecture at Philharmonic Hall in Berlin, Einstein is attendance to defend himself against Weyland's contention that relativity is a "hoax" and that the public has been "hoodwinked." While Einstein goes on the attack, writing to officials in the newly formed Weimar government, Elsa recognizes that men like Weyland and Lenard are dangerous in the current climate.
