Albert Einstein’s note containing his theory on how to be happy was sold for $1.3 million. The German scientist wrote it when he was in Tokyo. The Winner’s Auction House, the auction facilitator, revealed that the winning bid exceeded the initial maximum estimate. The winner, who claims to be European, wants to remain anonymous.

Einstein’s Tokyo trip and his theory of how to be happy

Einstein, the German physicist, had a lecture in Japan when he gave out hand-written autographs in 1992. At Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel, a courier delivered the message that he is to be receiving the Physics Nobel Prize.

Einstein handed over a big tip, but the courier did not get it. Troubled about the courier not having anything in return, the scientist gave him two hand-written German notes. He then reportedly told the courier that with luck, maybe the notes would be worth more than the regular tip he receives.

The bids were through phone, in person, and online -- all starting at $2,000. The flurry continued for 20 minutes until two buyers battled it out through the phone. Aside from the happiness theory note, two more letters by Einstein were also sold in the auction for $9,600 and $33,600 respectively. In Jerusalem, Einstein’s letters about physics, Israel, and God were sold for $210,000 back in June.

Roni Grosz of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem expressed that the letters reveal a part of Einstein that has not been researched about.

He added that all of the physicist’s letters and notes open up a new idea of how the “genius” acted in his alone times.

Einstein was declared governor of Hebrew University. All of his archives were kept in the institution after his death in 1955. Recently, the university announced the establishment of an Albert Einstein Museum.

Soon to rise in the planetarium building, the museum will feature the physicist’s archives and personal belongings. Upon completion, the building will highlight a visitor center, a gift shop, lobby, and administrative offices.

Theory of relativity in another experimental scrutiny

Researchers of gravitational physics at Max Planck Institutes have investigated theories of gravity, "in which the strong gravitational fields within neutron stars differ from those predicted by general relativity. This strong-field deviation causes binary systems to radiate energy and merge more quickly than in general relativity." This was relayed in a report by Phys.org recently.