Swiss Clock Towers
Discovery: It's a myth that they inspired Einstein's relativity
For half a century, since 1973, multiple writers have claimed that Einstein’s relativity of time originated because of thoughts he allegedly had about clock towers in Switzerland.
Such stories have been written by prominent Harvard professors, such as Steven Pinker and Peter Galison, and well-known physicists such as Michio Kaku and Hans Ohanian, and bestselling biographers such as Walter Isaacson.
However, when I sought the many primary sources I found that all such stories are false.
In his writings, Einstein never claimed that clock towers inspired him to think of the relativity of time. None of his friends, relatives, coworkers, or acquaintances claimed that he was inspired by Swiss clocks or towers either.
“Einstein and the Clock Towers of Bern,” in Science Secrets: The Truth about Darwin’s Finches, Einstein’s Wife, and Other Myths (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2011), 164-171.
“Material History and Imaginary Clocks: Poincaré, Einstein, and Galison on Simultaneity,” Physics in Perspective 6, No. 2 (June 2004), 31-48.
“Railways and the Roots of Relativity,” Einstein’s Clocks, Poincaré’s Maps: Empires of Time, by Peter Galison,” Physics World, Vol. 16, No. 11 (November 2003), 51.
“Dating Albert Einstein,” chapter in Curiosity’s Cats: Writers on Research, ed. Bruce Joshua Miller (St. Paul, Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2014), 48-72.
REVIEWS
"Martínez shows that it’s possible to construct a fully consistent system of arithmetic in which minus times minus makes minus. It’s a wonderful vindication...”
JAKE RANDELL
AMERICAN SCIENTIST
"Martínez can certainly take credit for having produced by far the best and most detailed account of this important strand in Einstein's early work.”
JÜRGEN RENN
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE
“An essential text for any future reserarch on Bruno, Galileo and The Inquisition. ...possibly the most important book of the year for the history of astronomy.”
CLIFFORD CUNNINGHAM
ASTRONOMICAL HISTORY
BOOKS
BIO
Alberto Martinez is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a professor at UT Austin, he investigates the history of science, especially Einstein and relativity theory, history of math, historical myths, and Giordano Bruno and Galileo. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
He also researches myths in political news media, The Eyes of Texas, and episodes in the history of money and corruption.
Now, he's finishing writing a novel about Albert Einstein.