The Antigravity Enigma

Fiction, Fringe Science, and Modern Physics
Erscheinungsjahr 2026
ISBN: 978-3-032-11794-6
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 172 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm

Reihe: Science and Fiction

From magic carpets to hoverboards and space drives, the human imagination has always seen antigravity as the ultimate aspirational symbol of power over nature. It featured prominently in the technologically optimistic science fiction of the mid-20th century, and remains popular with amateur theorists hoping to make a world-shaking breakthrough, and those seeking to explain UFO sightings in terms of alien technology. Yet the whole concept of antigravity is often derided by professional scientists. Is this a valid view, or are they missing something? This entertaining and thought-provoking book provides a wide-ranging survey of the whole field of antigravity, from science-fictional treatments by the likes of H. G. Wells, Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, through speculative research by NASA, universities and the aerospace industry, to the totally different mindset of ufologists, fringe researchers and conspiracy theorists. In a world where our understanding of physics is known to be incomplete, and which has been shaken by numerous paradigm shifts in the past, can we be certain that the discovery of antigravity isn’t just around the corner?

Zielgruppe

Popular/general

Autoren/Hrsg.

May, Andrew

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Sonstige Technologien | Angewandte Technik Astronautik
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Quantenphysik Relativität, Gravitation
• Technische Wissenschaften Verkehrstechnik | Transportgewerbe Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik, Luftverkehr
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Mechanik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Gravity and Antigravity.- Antigravity in Science Fiction.- Speculations on Antigravity in Mainstream Science.- Fringe Theories of Antigravity.- Antigravity and UFOs.- The Future of Antigravity.

Über Autor(innen)

Andrew May  obtained a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Manchester and is an experienced and versatile professional, with a career spanning academia, government and private industry. Since 2011 he has been working as a freelance writer. He has a wide range of interests and has written both authoritatively and entertainingly on the physical sciences, military technology, British history, science fiction, New Age beliefs and the paranormal. He has published with Springer: (2017), (2017),  (2018), (2019) (2020), and (2023).