Lincoln Barnett

Lincoln Kinnear Barnett (1909–1979) was an editor and author, most notably at Life Magazine for many years.

Quotes

• The Michelson–Morley experiment confronted scientists with an embarrassing alternative. On the one hand they could scrap the ether theory which had explained so many things about electricity, magnetism, and light. Or if they insisted on retaining the ether they had to abandon the still more venerable Copernican theory that the earth is in motion. To many physicists it seemed almost easier to believe that the earth stood still than that waves – light waves, electromagnetic waves – could exist without a medium to sustain them. It was a serious dilemma and one that split scientific thought for a quarter century. Many new hypotheses were advanced and rejected. The experiment was tried again by Morley and by others, with the same conclusion; the apparent velocity of the earth through the ether was zero.
  • The Universe and Dr. Einstein, 2nd rev. edition, 1957, p. 44

• ...nor has any physical experiment ever proved that the Earth actually is in motion.
  • The Universe and Dr. Einstein, 2nd rev. edition, 1957, p. 73