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Major Scientific Discovery
Tony Key disproves Einstein's Relativity Theory
by
Ralph Walderson
Mar. 3, 2004
-- Today Professor Anthony Key shocked the international scientific
community by proving false the famous Theory of Relativity, originally
proposed by famous physicist Albert Einstein. Key "accidentally"
stumbled upon the flaw while teaching a first-year physics PHY138
course this morning. Within twenty minutes the first newspaper and
television crews had already appeared on the scene, showing just how
important this discovery is.
Relativity, theory, was developed in
the early 20th century, and originally attempted to account for
certain anomalies in the concept of relative motion, but in its
ramifications has developed into one of the most important basic
concepts in physical science. In 1905, Einstein published the first of
two important papers on the theory of relativity, in which he
dismissed the problem of absolute motion by denying its existence.
According to Einstein, no particular object in the universe is
suitable as an absolute frame of reference that is at rest with
respect to space. Any object (such as the center of the solar system)
is a suitable frame of reference, and the motion of any object can be
referred to that frame. The fundamental hypothesis on which Einstein's
theory was based was the nonexistence of absolute rest in the
universe. This hypothesis was shown to be subtly flawed, and as his
class watched confusedly, Professor Key excitedly scrawled
mathematical formulae wherever he could, even using the wall of the
lecture room for his overflowing notes.
"It was totally unexpected,"
Key says, still in awe of his discovery. "Who would have thought that
relativity, the basis of modern physics, would be flawed." When asked
whether he expected to receive a Nobel Prize for his discovery, he
humbly replied, "I don't know if it would merit that...I suppose that
it would be grand, but I am not expecting any such reward."
Nonetheless, the scientific community is head-over-heels at the
revelation. There will undoubtedly be scientists and mathematicians
who refute Key's findings, but for now the repercussions cannot
even remotely be estimated.
Ralph
Walderson is a news services officer with the
department of public affairs.
CONTACT:
U of T
Public Affairs, ph: (416) 978-5949; email:
r.walderson@utoronto.ca
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