World Year of Physics has already passed, yet many are still wondering when the next Einstein will arrive. Some scientists who have reflected on this question doubt that it will be any time soon. They claim that a major leap in mathematics must be made before a unified field theory can be developed. Maybe so, but these achievements need not be made separately. Sir Isaac Newton developed the calculus and also managed to give us his laws of motion and gravitation. It is certain that unification will involve great mathematical depth (much like string theory does), so it is possible that a qualified genius could usher in a new branch of mathematics as part of a grander scheme of developing the unified field theory. Such a person would need to possess an incredible mathematical ability in addition to an amazing proficiency in physics.

But where will a genius with an unsurpassed grasp of mathematics and physics be found? The search for the next Einstein ultimately relates to the question of how genius is achieved. Genius certainly involves a mix of nature and nurture, but in what proportion? With the world population at a breathtaking 6.5 billion, surely someone somewhere has had those Einsteinian genes. So where have all the Mozarts, Gausses and Shakespeares gone? The fact that the world population is so large offers one clue. Those with Gaussian, Newtonian or Einsteinian genes are all likely running into each other, making it harder for any one genius to rise above the rest. Like Brian Greene said, "Maybe there is an Einstein out there today, but it would be a lot harder for him to be heard." In Einstein's day, there were only about a few thousand physicists around the world, and only a handful of them could match wits with Einstein. Today, competition is much more fierce. The amount of mathematics and physics knowledge one is required to study grows larger and ever more complex.

Despite the odds, most scientists are confident that a new Einstein will arise, though when that will happen is anybody's guess. Most of the pioneering discoveries and inventions were made by great scientists when they were young, so it is likely that Einstein's successor will also be young. The task at hand of unification may well be one of the most challenging tasks ever posed. Those courageous enough to tackle such a gargantuan obstacle faces overwhelming odds. Nevertheless, physicists are hopeful that unification can be achieved and when it is, it will go down in history as the pinnacle of human endeavor and a testament to the intellect of mankind.