Abstract
Twentieth century physics was based on three conceptual revolutions, two of which are well known to the general public: the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. The third revolution – statistical physics – has had less successful public relations despite its vast implications for our daily life. Statistical physics is the theory that allows us to relate the properties of multi-component systems (e.g., the paper or computer display you are currently looking at) to their microscopic components and interactions with the environment. Albert Einstein made crucial contributions to each of these three revolutions, all published during the miraculous year of 1905. In this article we focus on his contribution to statistical physics and its far-reaching impact on a surprisingly broad range of contemporary scientific areas.