Albert Einstein was one of the greatest minds of all time. He profoundly changed the way we look at space and time. But else do we know about the great scientist?
Kara Kovalchik of Mental Floss takes a look back at Einstein's life, uncovering some lesser-known details about the German-born genius' life.
Did Einstein show any signs of future greatness as an infant?
His first impression wasn't one of fame, no. Born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879, Albert was the first child of Pauline and Hermann Einstein. And to say the couple was less than impressed with their newborn son would be an understatement; they thought his head was grotesquely oversized.
His parents described Albert to the delivering physician as a "monstrosity". The doctor convinced them that all infant heads appeared larger than normal and that Albert's body would grow to become more proportionate to his cranium.
Of course, once that happened, his grandmother clucked over him and complained to his parents that the boy was "much too fat!"
Was he really a slow learner?
Yes and no. The youngster didn't start to speak until he was two-years-old, but when he did chatter, he skipped all that "mama, dada" bunk and started off using full sentences.
In 1881, Albert's parents presented him with a new little sister, Maria (called "Maja" by family and friends). When two-year-old Albert saw her for the first time, he presumed that she was some sort of toy, and asked "Where does it have its small wheels?"
Despite his original skepticism, Maja and Albert soon became best friends.
Did Einstein suffer from a neurological disorder?
Einstein's primary-school teachers reported that the child had a powerful and lingering distaste of authority. Coupled with his late-developing speech, some medical professionals have suggested this behavior as symptomatic of either autism or Asperger's Syndrome.
Throughout his childhood and adult life, however, Albert did not exhibit any other behavior that would have been typical of such a diagnosis.
He had no difficulty communicating with others, for example. He also demonstrated the emotional capacity to develop both close friendships and passionate relationships.
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