Dark Matter vs Ether: What's the Difference?

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Dark matter and ether are both theoretical constructs used to explain phenomena that current scientific equations cannot fully account for. Dark matter is theorized to exist due to gravitational effects observed in galaxies, while ether was once thought to be a medium for light transmission but was disproven by experiments like Michelson-Morley. Unlike ether, which was rejected due to a lack of evidence, dark matter is supported by indirect evidence, although its exact nature remains elusive. The discussion highlights that both concepts serve as metaphors for unknowns in physics, with dark matter potentially facing a similar fate as ether if future discoveries invalidate it. Ultimately, the conversation reflects ongoing debates about the nature of these theories and their implications for our understanding of the universe.
  • #31
I couple of comments - the MMX didn't actually disprove the ether - nor did the success of SR - Einstein simply turned the surprising results from a problem to a postulate - similar to what is being done by inventing a something that explains the apparent flatness of the universe - so there is an analogy - Einstein did the same thing in deriving the General Theory - he knew the answer was in curvature - so he simply postulated that inert matter curves static space - the equations work - but there seems to be some missing physics - maybe dark energy will turn out to be tied to the stress of space - and maybe the stress of space will ultimately be connected to the velocity of light -
 

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