After leaving the ancient civilization of Atlantis in seven disk-shaped
craft, Aylan's people developed self-sustaining craft that function independently of any planet. They are from the same genetic root as humans. Aylan contacted Dan Fry while Fry was working at the White Sands Proving Ground on July 4, 1950.
The ideas discussed by Aylan and Dan Fry are offered as alternative interpretations of sciences existing in 1954, and not as absolutes. The sine curve nature of physical law that Aylan discussed with Dan Fry has been useful for interpreting the TimeStar.
Space
Dan Fry & Aylan, April 21, 1954
"Well, Aylan, this is all most fascinating," commented Fry. "Can you tell me anything about Space? I know that among all of the great basic factors of the Universe, it is perhaps the most difficult to define or explain. While many of our greatest philosophers and scientists have attempted definitions, few have succeeded in offering anything which the average mind could readily grasp. The German mathematician Leibnitz said, 'Space is simply the order or relation of things among themselves.' Several centuries afterwards, Dr. Einstein used almost identical terms. 'Space has no objective reality except as an order or arrangement of the objects we perceive in it.'"
"Yes," replied Aylan, "I was coming to that. The average Earth man's definition of Space is: "That in which matter can be placed' or 'that which matter occupies.' This last definition is subject to dispute by those who maintain that matter does not occupy Space, but is itself, only a warp or distortion in Space. Another school of thought insists with equal vigour, that while matter does occupy Space, it creates a warp of distortion in the Space surrounding it. Since both of these concepts are subject to the same set of mathematical laws, the same laws can be offered in support of either. There is little however, in either of these assumptions which seems to furnish a good foundation for understanding and it is understanding rather than algebraic formulae that I am trying to help to find.
"For our purpose, a simple definition will suffice. Space is that which separates bodies of matter, whether these bodies be atoms, galaxies, or any component part of either. We can extend this definition by stating that the degree of separation which exists between any two bodies is determined by the degree of curvature of the natural laws which exists between them.
"In making observations, of course, we must remember that since the natural laws are relative, the mass of the body itself influences the degree of curvature. In the theories of relativity given to the world by Dr. Einstein, the natural laws, in general retain their linearity, but the Space in which they operate is considered to be curved. This concept offers the simplest mathematical presentation, since all the observed deviations form linearity can thus be explained by a single postulate. Unfortunately, like most of your mathematical presentations, the concept offers for the human mind to grasp. A curved Space cannot be pictured mentally, nor can it be drawn upon paper. There is always something remaining outside the curve. Furthermore attempts to rationalize this concept lead to many paradoxical statements which become more and more evident, the greater the effort to explain.
"One of the best efforts by an Earth man to bring to the average mind an understanding of the principles of relativity, was made by Lincoln Barnett in his well-known book, "The Universe And Dr. Einstein". Because of its careful preparation and its explicit presentation of present theory, however, it brings out very clearly the paradox which must exist between successive assumptions. For instance, reference was made, as I have already remarked, to the theory of Abbe Lemaitre, which supposed that at one time all the matter in the Universe was contained in one huge lump or star. Since the curvature of Space is considered to be determined by the amount of density of the matter present in it, at that time the Universe was very small. That is, it had a very high degree of curvature. Light and other forms of energy do not move outward from this curve, but follow the circumference, so that the light emitted by this body, after a comparatively short journey, returned to its starting point. No attempt was made to speculate upon the length of time in which this body had existed, or the origin of the matter and energy of which it was composed. The theory merely supposed that, after perhaps an infinity of quiescence, this body suddenly exploded. Portions of the mass moved outward in all directions and thereby enlarged the radius of Space. If the radius of Space were increased, it is obvious that the matter did not follow the curvature of Space, but, actually moved perpendicularly to it (or perhaps at a tangent). At any rate, we see that while the radiated energy followed the 'curvature' of Space whose radius was determined by the mass and density of the matter, when the matter itself expanded, instead of following the curve, its motion increased the radius.
"It is interesting to note that the statement is repeatedly made by Man on Earth that this sudden expansion began about two billion years ago, yet a few moments ago I stated that the calculated radius of the Universe is now about thirty-five billion light years. Simple calculation would indicate then that the Universe, or at least that portion which we call Space, must have moved outward at an average velocity equal to about seventeen times the velocity of light. Either this velocity of expansion is still maintained or at some period in the past it must have been even greater. [Since Daniel Fry talked with Aylan it has been announced by Walter Baade of the Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories that, as a result of the recalibration of the cephid variable stars, the previously calculated size of the Universe must be increased by a factor of 2.8. However, the correction factor also applies to the time of expansion, so that the rate of expansion remains the same.]
"These statements raise some perplexing questions in men's minds. In your theories of relativity it is assumed that light follows the 'curve' of Space. Yet it is difficult to picture a photon following a curve whose radius is expanding at a rate equal to seventeen times the velocity of the particle."
"In the book "The Universe and Dr. Einstein," put in Fry, "it is also stated that while Space is expanding rapidly, the matter of the Universe, which is likened to 'inelastic parches on the surface of an expanding balloon,' is not expanding with the Space, since if it were, we could not detect the expansion.
"If it is Space that is expanding, it is difficult to understand why we have never detected the increasing distance between the Earth and the Moon or the Sun. No attempt was made to explain why the space which exists between the individual atoms, and between component parts of those atoms, should not expand also."
"None of these difficulties, of course, invalidate any of the mathematical laws from which the concepts have been derived," Aylan pointed out, "but they do emphasise the great need for explanations which are more compatible with reason and understanding."
"In the above case," asked Fry, "would it not be simpler to assume that the degree of separation which exists between the galaxies, when considered as individual bodies, is apparently increasing because they occupy opposite portions of the sine curve of natural law?"
"If we exchange our postulate of linear laws and a 'curved Space' for a concept which incorporates the curvature of natural law,' replied Aylan, "we find that we have not thereby destroyed or invalidated any of your present mathematics, but we have achieved a position from which the operation of the natural laws can be pictured by the human mind, and can be charted upon paper. Thus we have taken a great stride in the direction of understanding."
"Can you sum up again?" asked Fry.
"Certainly," replied Aylan. "There are three major points to remember in our discussion about Space.
"First, our definition - Space is that which separates bodies of matter. This separation is a vector function of the time, energy, and mass differentials"
"Second, the degree of separation which exists between any two bodies, or reference points, determines the degree of curvature of the natural laws between them.
"And third, the natural laws are relative. That is, the value of one can be altered between any two reference points by altering the value or relationship of the other. This last fact should always be borne in mind when we hear some dogmatist solemnly declare that we are forever barred from reaching the stars by the hopelessly great degree of separation between us.
Excerpted from On Board The Flying Saucers by Gavin Gibbons
