The real Albert Einstein was a well-known theoretical physicist, humanist, and artist who fundamentally changed how scientists (and humanity) understand time. Einstein was born in the German Empire in 1879 to secular Jewish parents. He didn’t do well in grade school and found the style of education stifling to his creativity. Eventually, he renounced his German citizenship to avoid conscription and met Mileva, a fellow physics student, in polytechnic studies. Importantly, during this time, he also met his lifelong best friend and confidant, Michele Besso.

Einstein graduated in 1900 and was awarded Swiss citizenship. In 1902, he and Mileva had a child, though the young girl was either adopted out or died in infancy. Around this time, Einstein and several friends formed a group called The Olympia Academy that met regularly to read and discuss philosophy. Some of the philosophical ideas they discussed influenced his theories. The following year, Mileva and Einstein married and had a son, Hans Albert, whom Einstein’s Dreams references. After failing to find a teaching job, Einstein landed in the patent office, where he was working in 1905 when he wrote his now-famous theory of special relativity.

During his time at the patent office, Einstein processed paperwork on signals transmission and clock synchronization.