Max Planck is known for starting quantum theory, but his journey was filled with personal loss, bold ideas, and quiet rebellion. Article shows the lesser-known side of the man whose ideas shattered classical physics and set the stage for Einstein.
Max Planck
Max Planck didn’t believe in quantum theory at first—he developed it reluctantly to fix a problem in thermodynamics.
He introduced the idea that energy comes in discrete packets, later named “quanta.”
His formula explaining blackbody radiation shocked scientists and broke the laws of classical physics.
Planck won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918, though his work was initially doubted.
He mentored Albert Einstein and was among the first to support Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Despite being deeply patriotic, Planck spoke out against the Nazis and defended Jewish colleagues like Einstein.
He continued working through World War II, even after his house was destroyed by bombing.
Tragically, his son Erwin was executed in 1945 for participating in a plot to assassinate Hitler.
Planck loved music and played the piano and organ—he once considered becoming a professional musician.
He was a child prodigy and finished high school at 16, then earned his doctorate by age 21.
Max Planck’s constant (h) is now one of the most important numbers in all of physics.
He taught in Berlin, where his lectures attracted the brightest minds in Europe, including Einstein and Schrödinger.
He remained scientifically active into his 80s, despite war, loss, and health problems.
The Max Planck Society, named in his honor, is now one of the world’s top research institutions.
Max Planck never wanted to rewrite physics—he simply followed the math, even when it broke the rules.
