Motion with respect to the universal ocean of aether eludes us. We say, 'Let V be the velocity of a body through the aether', and form the various electromagnetic equations in which V is scattered liberally. Then we insert the observed values, and try to eliminate everything which is unknown except V. The solution goes on famously; but just as we have got rid of all the other unknowns, behold! V disappears as well, and we are left with the indisputable but irritating conclusion -

The quest of the absolute leads into the four-dimensional world.

Shuffling is the only thing which Nature cannot undo.

In the world of physics we watch a shadowgraph performance of the drama of familiar life. The shadow of my elbow rests on the shadow table as the shadow ink fl…

Although the problem of transmuting chemical elements into each other is much older than a satisfactory definition of the very concept of chemical element, it …

I am acutely aware of the fact that the marriage between mathematics and physics, which was so enormously fruitful in past centuries, has recently ended in div…

Quaternions came from Hamilton after his really good work had been done, and though beautifully ingenious, have been an unmixed evil to those who have touched …