How do we know Einstein has it right?

Question

We constantly say that Einstein’s General and Special theories of relativity have passed many different tests, insenuating their accuracy.

Before Einsten, we tested Isaac Newton’s theories, which also passed with accuracy until Einstein came along.

What’s to say another Einstein/Newton comes along 200-300 years from now to dispute Einstein’s theories?

Is that even possible or are his theories grounded in certainty at this point?

In: 593

Answer 1

Einstein’s theory predicted that gravity could bend light. An experiment was designed based on the idea that this would mean you should be able to see stars that are behind the sun because their light gets bent. The problem with this idea is that the sun’s brightness overwhelms the light of any star. So photos were taken during an eclipse and we did in fact see stars that were behind the sun. This was considered the first “proof” of Einstein’s theories and made him wildly famous.