Einstein’s Legacy: Modern Physics All around You

The name Albert Einstein conjures up some of the most brain-bending ideas in the history of science, notably his special and general theories of relativity and his key contributions to quantum mechanics. No concepts, it seems, could be farther removed from daily life. Or are they? It turns out that the abstruse theories developed by Einstein and the other pioneers of 20th-century physics show up in everyday activities such as these: In 12 fascinating half-hour lectures designed for non-scientists, this course introduces the fundamental ideas that have changed our understanding of physical reality, while simultaneously improving our lives. Your expert is Chad Orzel, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Union College.