Born in 1789 in Erlangen to a Protestant family. Received excellent education from his father in mathematics and physics. Studied at Erlangen Gymnasium from age 11 to 15
Einstein's great-great-great-great-grandfather Jakob Weil was born in late 17th century. Albert's great-great-grandfather Löb Moses Sontheimer was grandfather of tenor Heinrich Sontheim
Earliest written evidence found in Aristophanes's The Clouds (424 BC). First convex lens described by Ibn al-Haytham in 1021. Compound microscope developed by Metius and Janssen in late 1500s. Telescope introduced by Lipperhey in 1608, improved by Galileo
Vitalism claims living organisms contain non-physical elements or governed by different principles. Vitalist biologists like Reinke proposed testable hypotheses but experiments failed. Vitalism was debated among biologists in 18th-19th centuries. By 1931, biologists had almost unanimously abandoned vitalism
Science's roots trace back to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (3000-1200 BCE). Egyptians developed decimal system and geometry for surveying. Mesopotamians combined rational science with magic in medicine. Babylonian astronomy provided foundation for modern calendars
Wundt founded world's first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig in 1879. Lab marked formal start of psychology as distinct science. Psychology separated from philosophy and biology through scientific methods