I'm certainly inclined towards this explanation.

I think my question started from thinking about the Michelson Morley experiments which were later performed in vacuum by some people (so they say anyway). They say "hah, this still works in vacuum so the atmosphere did not effect it". But if their vacuum had millions of particles in each cm3, how do they know matter isn't what helped keep the light beam in phase with itself? Seems like they don't.

So then this comes down to the question of stationary vs rotating aether as well as rotating Earth.

I assume a rotating Earth is well established. So then, if MMX truly was tested in vacuum and produced no fringe pattern we'd have some sort of rotating aether medium that is carried along with earth much like the lower atmosphere. However, if MMX in vacuum didn't actually establish that, then perhaps we do have a stationary aether medium. But I'm still thinking of a third option. If we have no perfect vacuum absent even gas, how do we know for certain light doesn't propagate via matter, without the need for aether?

I'm just pondering these things.

I'm certainly inclined towards this explanation.

I think my question started from thinking about the Michelson Morley experiments which were later performed in vacuum by some people (so they say anyway). They say "hah, this still works in vacuum so the atmosphere did not effect it". But if their vacuum had millions of particles in each cm3, how do they know matter isn't what helped keep the light beam in phase with itself? Seems like they don't.

So then this comes down to the question of stationary vs rotating aether as well as rotating Earth.

I assume a rotating Earth is well established. So then, if MMX truly was tested in vacuum and produced no fringe pattern we'd have some sort of rotating aether medium that is carried along with earth much like the lower atmosphere. However, if MMX in vacuum didn't actually establish that, then perhaps we still do have a stationary aether.

I'm certainly inclined towards this explanation.

I think my question started from thinking about the Michelson Morley experiments which were later performed in vacuum by some people (so they say anyway). They say "hah, this still works in vacuum so the atmosphere did not effect it". But if their vacuum had millions of particles in each cm3, how do they know matter isn't what helped keep the light beam in phase with itself? Seems like they don't.

So then this comes down to the question of stationary vs rotating aether as well as rotating Earth.

I assume a rotating Earth is well established. So then, is MMX truly was tested in vacuum and produced no fringe pattern we'd have some sort of rotating aether medium that is carried along with earth much like the lower atmosphere. However, if MMX in vacuum didn't actually establish that, then perhaps we still do have a stationary aether.