What's in a name? On the latest attempts to revive an æther

The development and evolution of the Einstein-ae ther Theory (ae-theory) shows that there is a field in cosmology where the word ether is being used again. It is unclear, however, whether this AE ther may be regarded in continuation with previous ethers, or it is an altogether new entity. The main goal of this paper is to understand the nature of this new ether in the context of previous instances of this scientific object. In order to do so, we shall first give a brief historical account of the distinct uses the word had assumed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, before its demise. Then, we shall describe the major attempts to revive the ether over the last century, focusing on the last endeavor: the ae-theory. In this article, we do not intend to support or reject this new use of the word, but to stress the complexity of establishing a consistent historical narrative of some scientific objects like the ether.

Automated summary

The development and evolution of the ae-theory reveals the re-emergence of the word "ether" in the field of cosmology. However, it remains uncertain whether this AE ether is a continuation of previous ethers or a completely new entity. This paper aims to understand the nature of this new ether by exploring its historical context and the attempts to revive the concept over the last century, with a focus on the ae-theory. The article emphasizes the complexity of establishing a consistent historical narrative for scientific objects like the ether, without advocating for or against its new usage.