The Surprising Truth About Albert Einstein’s “Stolen” Brain
The man who gave us the theory of relativity and the formula E=mc² left behind a legacy and a body of work that has arguably influenced science more than any other individual in the 20th century. When famous scientist Albert Einstein died in 1955, he wanted his body cremated, but pathologist Thomas Harvey who performed his autopsy had other plans and “stole” Einstein’s brain.
Pathologist Thomas Harvey’s Controversial Move
Harvey conducted Einstein’s autopsy and concluded that the famed scientist had died of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. However, rather than returning the brain to the hospital where Einstein had passed away, Harvey took it upon himself to remove the brain and keep it without permission. Einstein’s family was unaware of this until a few days later, when Harvey managed to get a reluctant blessing from Einstein’s son, Hans Albert. However, the stipulation was that any investigation would be conducted solely in the interest of science and any results published in reputable scientific journals. The brain was then kept in a peculiar manner, with some pieces sent to researchers around the world.
Where Einstein’s Brain Ended Up
The story of Einstein’s brain then becomes even more intriguing. After being fired from Princeton Hospital, Harvey moved the brain and himself to different places, with the brain being segmented into more than 200 pieces. Harvey’s marriage deteriorated, and with it, he moved the brain back and forth between several states. After his death, the boxes of slides containing pieces of Einstein’s brain ended up at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia.
Despite all the controversy and ethical questions surrounding the acquisition and preservation of Einstein’s brain, the reality is that it is now on display as one of the museum’s star attractions. And the main takeaway from the story is that, impressive as Einstein’s achievements may have been, at the end, we all have a brain.
Conclusion
We’ll likely never fully understand the intricate details of why or how Harvey took Einstein’s brain. The decision to keep the brain for so long may be seen as either an ambitious move in the pursuit of scientific knowledge or an act that conflicts with the ethics and law. Nonetheless, this intriguing story has certainly left a lasting imprint on the scientific world.