The Best Guide

Charles Darwin vs. Albert Einstein

A new exhibit at the Telus World of Science provokes thought - and sparks a battle of the brains.

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin

Born Feb. 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England.

Father Doesn't Know Best Robert Darwin was a doctor who wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. Charles the Dutiful studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but soon grew bored. His father then shipped him off to Cambridge, with the idea that Charles would become an Anglican priest.

Cousin Lovin' Married his cousin Emma Wedgwood. The couple tied the knot in 1839, and had a grand total of 10 children.

Travel Broadens the Mind Darwin set sail on HMS Beagle in 1831. On the five-year voyage, he studied geology, discovered fossils and made a stop in the Galapagos Islands. While ashore, he collected some of the local finches; these specimens later became critical evidence for his theory of evolution.

Publish or Perish Darwin wrote a book on coral reefs, others on geology and several reports on the Beagle expedition. His theory of natural selection took somewhat longer to come together. On the Origin of Species was published in 1859 and was an immediate sensation.

The Exhibition Includes "the world before Darwin" and his study of orchids.

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein

Born March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany.

Father Doesn't Know Best Hermann Einstein was an engineer who dedicated himself to the wonders of direct current. When DC lost out to alternating current, his business failed. Despite his troubles, he wanted his son to become an electrical engineer.

Cousin Lovin' Einstein was married twice: first to Mileva Maric in 1903, and then to his cousin Elsa Lowenthal in 1919. He had three kids with Maric, none with Lowenthal.

Travel Broadens the Mind In this case, it's more like travel deepens the brain pool. Einstein fled Nazi Germany in 1933. Shortly after arriving in the U.S., he landed a position at Princeton University's Institute for Advanced Study. Other scientists fleeing Europe included Neils Bohr and Enrico Fermi. Einstein and Fermi both helped develop the atomic bomb.

Publish or Perish His early writings concerned thermodynamics. In 1905, at the age of 26, he published his theory of special relativity. Later that year he furthered his work with a little ditty you might have heard: E=mc2. In 1915, he completed his General Theory of Relativity.

The Exhibition Goes beyond the science, to include a discussion on "peace and war" and Einstein's role as a global citizen.

Einstein & Darwin runs Saturday, Oct. 9 to Monday, Jan. 3, 2011 at the Telus World of Science, 701 11th St. S.W. $12.25 -$19.75. 403-268-8300, calgaryscience.ca.

The Last Word

We're giving this one to Einstein, but our decision is in no way scientific. We just like the snide expression, "way to go, Einstein"; "way to go, Darwin" will never catch on outside the Galapagos.

Author: Bruce Weir | Source: The Calgary Herald © [October 08, 2010]