Einstein's predictions based on relativity included time dilation and gravitational lensing, both confirmed through experiments. Time dilation was demonstrated with synchronized clocks on airplanes flying in opposite directions, showing a measurable difference in time. Gravitational lensing was validated during a solar eclipse when the positions of distant stars appeared altered due to light bending around the Sun. Einstein's thought experiments, such as the train traveling at the speed of light, served as conceptual tools to illustrate and predict the implications of relativity. These thought experiments are integral to the development of the theory, providing a framework for understanding complex phenomena before empirical evidence was available.
