Calculations manuscript by Albert Einstein sold at auction for $13m
November 24, 2021, 1:30 am

Calculations manuscript by Albert Einstein sold at auction for $13m

Albert Einstein/Pixabay

The BBC reported that a manuscript with calculations made by Albert Einstein as he attempted to formulate his theory of relativity has sold at auction for €11m (£9.7m, $13m)

The sale at Christie's auction house in Paris broke the record for an autographed scientific document.

It is one of just two papers that show the theoretical physicist's workings on his great scientific breakthrough.

The theory, published in 1915, transformed humankind's understanding of space, time and gravity.

Albert Einstein with judge Phillip Forman/Pixabay

The manuscript of calculations was penned between 1913 and 1914 by Einstein and his Swiss colleague Michele Besso, who kept hold of the document.

Christie's auction house praised Besso for his forward thinking in saving the manuscript.

Vincent Belloy, an expert at the auction house said: "Einstein is someone who kept very few notes, so the mere fact the manuscript survived and made its way to us already makes it extraordinary."

The papers contain calculations in black pen and according to Mr Belloy, show a number of errors in the journey to formulate the theory.

Christie's said the sale had "attracted collectors from all around the world who recognised the importance of the document".

However the buyer of the 54-page paper has not been revealed.

Einstein's theory of relativity shed light on the birth of the universe, planetary orbits and black holes.

Last May a letter written by Einstein containing the theory's most famous equation, E=mc², sold for more than $1.2m (£897,000).

Source: BBC

South Sudan and WHO step up Ebola preparedness amid outbreak in neighboring DR Congo UK MP Stella Creasy informed babies not allowed in Commons

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”