Aether (classical element)

According to ancient and medieval science, aether (/ˈiːθər/, alternative spellings include æther, aither, and ether), also known as the fifth element or quintessence, is the material that fills the region of the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere.^[1] The concept of aether was used in several theories to explain several natural phenomena, such as the propagation of light and gravity. In the late 19th century, physicists postulated that aether permeated space, providing a medium through which light could travel in a vacuum, but evidence for the presence of such a medium was not found in the Michelson–Morley experiment, and this result has been interpreted to mean that no luminiferous aether exists.^[2]

^ Cite error: The named reference Lloyd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Carl S. Helrich, The Classical Theory of Fields: Electromagnetism Berlin, Springer 2012, p. 26.

[Lloyd-1] Cite error: The named reference Lloyd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] Carl S. Helrich, The Classical Theory of Fields: Electromagnetism Berlin, Springer 2012, p. 26.

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Classical elements
Greek Air Water Aether Fire Earth
Hinduism / Jainism / Buddhism Vayu Ap Akasha Agni Prithvi
Chinese Wood (木) Water (水) Fire (火) Metal (金) Earth (土)
Japanese Wind (風) Water (水) Void (空) Fire (火) Earth (地)
Medieval Air Water Fire Aether Earth Sulphur Mercury Salt
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