Notebooks Reveal the Ingenuity That Shaped Einstein

His revolutionary discoveries in physics and chemistry electrified the scientific community and set the groundwork for Albert Einstein's theory of relativity almost a century later. He was a self-taught genius.

The Victorian scientist Michael Faraday's obscure notebooks, which were discovered in the Royal Institution's archive, will now be digitised and made permanently available online for the first time.

A Hidden Treasure in Scientific History

The notebooks contain Faraday's handwritten notes from a series of lectures given by electrochemical pioneer Sir Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution in 1812. “None of these notebooks have been looked at or analysed in any great depth,” said Charlotte New, the Royal Institution's head of heritage. “They're little known to the public.”

Faraday, a 13-year-old blacksmith's son, dropped out of school and worked as an apprentice bookbinder. He attended lectures and meticulously took notes, presenting one of his notebooks to

Davy, hoping for a job at the Royal Institution.

The notebooks of Faraday reveal his mind's workings and his intricate drawings to visualise scientific experiments and principles. He took the time to create his publication, grounding what he learned in his understanding.

Moreover, he even wrote an index for each notebook for personal research, demonstrating his dedication to understanding the science within. This is a testament to Faraday's dedication to his own understanding and personal research.

Faraday gave Davy a notebook as an expression of his desire to leave the vicious and selfish trade profession and serve science. Davy initially refused Faraday's assistance, but the notebooks and Faraday's confidence impressed him. Despite his initial decline, Davy praised Faraday's zeal, memory, and attention.

In 1813, Davy offered Faraday a job after a lab assistant was fired due to a brawl, offering access to the lab, coal, candles, and two attic rooms, but Faraday was advised to stay a bookbinder due to the harsh nature of science.

Foundational Discoveries

Despite Davy's advice, Faraday accepted the job at the Royal Institution, leading to the discovery of fundamental laws of physics and chemistry, including the law of electromagnetic induction in 1831.

Faraday's groundbreaking experiments at the institution led to the discovery of electromagnetic rotation in 1821, which led to the development of the electric motor. He also discovered the electric motor and hydrocarbon benzene in 1825, became the first scientist to liquefy gas in 1823, invented the electric generator in 1831, and discovered the laws of electrolysis in the early 1830s.

In 1845, Faraday discovered the Faraday effect, demonstrating the interconnectedness of light and electromagnetism through the influence of a magnetic field on polarised light.

Besides, Faraday's law of induction is widely credited with enabling Einstein to develop his theory of relativity. Throughout his career, Faraday continued to draw his apparatus in his notebooks, starting with illustrations and continuing through his groundbreaking discoveries.

The Royal Institution will launch a curated selection of key notebook pages online on March 24 to commemorate 200 years since Faraday founded the annual Christmas lectures.

Faraday initiated lectures in 1825, inspired by Davy's talks, to encourage science careers. He emphasised self-education, a principle that remains central to the Royal Institution, which aims to inspire diverse scientists, fostering a more inclusive scientific community.

In short, according to the Royal Institution's head of heritage, Charlotte New, Faraday's notebooks will be digitised and made searchable online in the future.

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