Albert Einstein, often regarded as one of the forefathers of physics, was born on March 14, 1879. His contributions to physics were unparalleled—his equation E=mc2 revealed the relationship between mass and energy, and his theories of relativity fundamentally altered how we perceive space, time, and gravity forever.
Beyond harboring scientific genius, Einstein was also a global icon and advocate for peace and education, using his platform to denounce warfare and violence across nations. According to the American Museum of Natural History, he was a “champion of nuclear disarmament” following the horrific bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War 2.
Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, (ironically also the 300th anniversary of Galileo’s death), and joined Einstein as one of the most influential theoretical physicists of the modern era. Despite being diagnosed with ALS at 21 and given only a few years to live, Hawking defied expectations and continued his groundbreaking work for decades. His research on black holes, singularities, and the nature of the universe challenged and expanded Einstein’s own theories.
FILE PHOTO: Physicist Stephen Hawking sits on stage during an announcement of the Breakthrough Starshot initiative with investor Yuri Milner in New York April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo
Hawking popularized science by making complex ideas accessible to the public through books like A Brief History of Time. His wit, resilience, and contributions to cosmology left an undeniable impression on both science and popular culture. He died on March 14, 2018, almost a century and a half after Einstein was born.
But the day’s scientific importance doesn’t end there—March 14 is also known as Pi day, a celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi), which governs the geometry of circles and appears in many fundamental equations in physics.
While a mere coincidence, the alignment of all three events on the same day feels like a poetic ode to physics, or a passing of a torch from one generation of scientists to the next. Both men sought to understand the deepest mysteries of existence, delving into research that shaped the way future generations engaged with reality and leaving legacies that continue to inspire.
