Albert Einstein's equation E = mc2 is the most famous in the history of science. It states that energy and mass are equivalent, a concept that enabled scientists to understand the energy source of the sun and other stars and led to the development of nuclear energy. Specifically, the equation states that a mass m can theoretically be transformed into an amount of energy, E, equal to m multiplied by the square of the speed of light (3 X 10 to the 10th power cm/sec). Einstein deduced this concept from his theory of special relativity. The equation first appeared in a paper he published in 1907.

See Binding Energy.