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Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds in human history, revolutionized science with his theory of relativity, quantum mechanics insights, and philosophical reflections on space, time, and matter. But after his death in 1955, a bizarre and controversial chapter began — the theft of his brain.
Despite Einstein’s explicit wish for his body to be cremated intact, a pathologist named Dr. Thomas Stoltz Harvey removed his brain during the autopsy — without family consent. What followed was a decades-long saga involving cutting the brain into 240 pieces, mailing parts to researchers, and an ethical debate that still continues today.
This article explores the full story of Einstein’s brain: what happened, why it was taken, how it was studied, where the pieces are now, and what scientists actually found.
Albert Einstein’s Death and Final Wishes
Albert Einstein passed away on April 18, 1955, at the age of 76, due to an abdominal aortic aneurysm at Princeton Hospital in New Jersey. His last wishes were clear:
- His body was intended to be cremated immediately following his death.
- No shrine or relics were to be made from his remains.
- He wanted his ashes scattered in a secret location to avoid the idolization of his body.
However, that’s not what happened — especially with his brain.
The Unauthorized Removal: Dr. Thomas Harvey’s Decision
Dr. Thomas Stoltz Harvey, the pathologist on duty at Princeton Hospital, conducted the autopsy and, disregarding Einstein’s explicit wishes, removed his brain without obtaining consent from the family or any legal authorization.
What Harvey Did:
- Removed Einstein’s brain within hours of death.
- Preserved it in formaldehyde.
- Later cut it into 240 pieces.
- He embedded thin slices in celluloid and mounted them onto microscope slides for study.
He also took out Einstein’s eyes, which were later given to his ophthalmologist, Dr. Henry Abrams — an unusual and equally curious episode of its own.
Harvey’s rationale? He believed that preserving the brain of a genius like Einstein might offer scientific insight into intelligence.
Fallout: Family Reaction and Job Loss
When Einstein’s son, Hans Albert Einstein, learned of the removal, he was reportedly outraged. However, Harvey eventually convinced the family to allow the brain to be studied scientifically — under the condition that it be used only for legitimate research.
Despite this, Harvey:
- Lost his job at Princeton Hospital soon after.
- Took the brain with him as he moved across several U.S. states.
- Kept pieces of it in Tupperware containers, jars, and even behind a beer cooler.
Dissection and Distribution: 240 Pieces of Genius
Harvey had Einstein’s brain:
- Photographed extensively.
- Divided into 240 blocks.
- Sliced into thousands of microscopic slides.
- Labeled by region (prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe, etc.)
He then:
- Sent portions of the brain to neurologists, pathologists, and researchers.
- Retained many parts himself for decades.
Some pieces ended up in universities, labs, and even private collections, while others were misplaced, lost, or returned much later.
