Tony writes:
You mean it's still considered a legitimate theory (or at least hypothesis)?
It's not.
I always thought it was one of those long dead ideas like the steady state theory.
It is.
Well I must admit I'm surprised. I honestly had no idea that the concept was still given serious consideration.
It's not.
The problem with the ether hypothesis was that it wasn't proposed because of some kind of direct evidence. It was proposed because it was thought to be necessary. Unfortunately, even the hypothesis itself makes it hard to find any evidence to support its existence. How can you even detect something that's supposed to be able to go through everything without a problem?
I always thought that the particle/wave duality of light showed how the ether was not necessary. As I understood it, light being able to travel as particles and waves, is capable of travelling through empty space, whereas a mere wave requires a medium through which to propagate.
Yes, you are correct. However, do you really know what the duality of particle/wave nature of light is? It's an interesting concept, but it can only be shown mathematically and no more, just like the dimensions beyond our space-time.
It seems that I misunderstood. That's what I get for being an "amateur scientist".
No, you have not misunderstood.
Please feel free to set me straight on this.
You mean you're gay?
The Laminator
For goodness's sake, please vote Democrat this November!