Pushing Gravity: New perspectives on Le Sage's theory of gravitation

A good collection of papers on this very important subject for understanding how the universe works. Clearly the direction of modern physics is not going to lead to proper answers what with fictional dark matter, assuming red shift of light is only due to Doppler type effect when Elysium resistant over vast distances would produce the same effect with no expanding universe or matter created out of nothing 'Big Bang'. I am particularly impressed by the late Dr Tom Van Flanderns chapter on gravity as he explains how it could all work so simply and beauifully. I explain the concepts to very young relatives as his ideas make sense. Curved space and time requires people to believe in concepts different to what they se around them and in the observable universe.

Some of the greatest minds in history have pondered this question-and then pretty much given up on it. Newton, and later Einstein, to a more exacting degree, gave us mathematical models of gravity, which hold true to this day. Except that they say nothing about the mechanism which actually causes gravity. Einstein's theory, General Relativity (GR), attributes the cause to the "fabric of space." But as Tom Van Flandern, one of the contributors to this book, points out, Einstein's "rubber sheet analogy" presumes real gravity underneath the "fabric" which causes planets to sink down into the "gravity wells" in the sheet. It therefore explains nothing about the real cause of gravity. In the mid 18th century, G.L. LeSage proposed a mechanical theory of gravity whereby tiny particles in space move about in all directions and at very high speeds, causing equal force on all sides of any object or planet they make contact with. But the space between any two objects has less of these particles or "gravitons" than the surrounding space, because some of the gravitons have already been absorbed as they passed through the object. This dearth of gravitons between objects causes a kind of low-pressure area allowing the gravitons in the outlying areas to push the objects together-thus causing gravity. LeSage's theory has been revived and then rejected by many famous scientists over the years, and is presently undergoing its most recent revival. If such particles exist, there must be a way to detect them. One method, attempted by the physicist Q. Majorana, early in the 20th century, was to test the effect that gravitational shielding has on the absorption of gravitons and hence the weight of objects. Through elaborate scaling experiments carried out in a very careful and meticulous manner, he obtained some seemingly positive results. But these results, along with more recent shielding experiments using satellites in Earth orbit, have not been conclusive. They have not yet been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the mainstream of science. What the theory of pushing gravity does have, especially in its modern versions, is its compelling logic. It posits a physical cause to gravity as opposed to, for example, Newton's instant action at a distance, (IAAD), (which, incidentally Newton was never happy with), and Einstein's "fabric of space." Van Flandern, an astronomer, and one of pushing gravity's most convincing advocates, points out that IAAD can be better explained by positing gravitons which move at many times the speed of light. A slower propagation speed, e.g., the speed of light, would cause a delay or aberration of the signal carrying the gravitational force between, say, the Sun and the Earth. This would cause Earth's orbit to be unstable. For those interested in serious cutting edge science, but accessible to the intelligent layman, this is a fascinating book. There is some "quantitative" (i.e. mathematical) description, but most of the essays are perfectly lucid on the "qualitative" (verbal) level. If there is ever to be "anti-gravity" science in mankind's future, the physical cause of gravity must first be understood. This book is a must for optimistic science enthusiasts.

This is a remarkable book, from both the historical side of science andfrom the future side, as well. The book shows that, contrary to what is saidfor the laity, gravity is still not understood, and perhaps Einstein wasn't correctin everything. There is an amazing, short chapter uniting gravity and EM theoryby suggesting that gravity is just ultra-long EM waves! And they are ultralongbecause of the Compton effect. The Compton effect puzzled Bohr and Einstein,and ultimately convinced Bohr about quanta. That it might be the causeof gravity is an exciting idea. The book deserves reading my anyone adventarousenough to think that scientific ideas should be considered that aren't in thebeaten path.

I'm by no means a scientist -- I got a "C" in chemistry in college -- but I enjoy books about cosmology and astronomy, especially ones that challenge accepted wisdom. I loved this book. Reading it is like taking a joyride through the universe at speeds thousands of times faster than light! All the essays were great, especially Tom Van Flandern's. Ever wonder what Copernicus felt as he realized that most scientists of his day had it wrong? Get this book and you'll experience some of that sense of wonder and excitement. Then read Van Flandern's magnum opus "Dark Matter,Missing Planets and New Comets: Paradoxes Resolved,Origins Illuminated."by Michael Christian

This book presents a good history and some intriguing and well thought out ideas as to how gravity actually works. I purchased additional copies to share with friends and family.