The Forgotten Refrigerator Invented by Einstein and Szilard

Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard co-invented an absorption refrigerator in 1926, a design that required no moving parts and used only heat as its energy source. The collaboration arose after the two physicists read about a family killed by toxic fumes leaking from a faulty refrigerator compressor. Their design aimed to eliminate mechanical components entirely, reducing the risk of leaks and improving safety. Although the Einstein-Szilard refrigerator was patented, it was largely set aside as freon-based compressor refrigerators became commercially dominant. Interest in the design has resurged in recent decades due to its potential relevance for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cooling technologies.