Forces of the world, unite!

This is an article about an article that Albert Einstein wrote for "Scientific American" in 1950 outlining his unified theory of physics. In a 1950 Scientific American article, Einstein outlined his unified theory of physics. Ideas poured forth from figures such as Hermann Weyl, Arthur Stanley Eddington and Theodor Kaluza. That said, the article rewards multiple readings, especially if one thinks of it as a discussion not of science but of the philosophy of science. In the case of special relativity, you can replace every instance of x, y, z and t--the coordinates that specify the position and time--with a certain mathematical function of x, y, z and t. Only a certain function will do. Quantum mechanics without gravitation explains electromagnetism, the nuclear forces and the structure of matter with exquisite precision.