Got it, and I'll never make that connection again. I just read (most of) Einstein's speech in 1920 dealing with "Ether and the Theory of Relativity", and while I'd have to read it again "a few" more times to fully grasp it, I think I can see what Einstein's idea of "ether" is/was, and why it's definitely not Quantum Foam. But what interests me so much about the concept is the apparant fact that even where there is what we would call a complete vacuum -- nothing! -- there is in fact physical activity taking place at that point which science just doesn't understand. In fact, if we could pick a 1-light-year cube of "nothing" in space, then place a super-massive object in the middle of that cube, we would if nothing else get a bending of space-time. So, space-time is everywhere it seems -- in space, under my nose, in my wife's purse, everywhere. And wherever there is "nothing" except whatever it is that space-time consists of, we've got quantum foam. Are they perhaps one in the same? Do we even know what space-time consists of -- electromagnetic waves maybe, or just pure magic?? Thanks in advance to whoever helps me understand this concept a little better.

You speak as if quantum foam is not to be found where there is something. Do you mean to?

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Also... Just because Einstein said something doesn't make it true. That's called an argument from authority and it is a logical fallacy.

Ether is a word that refers to an interstellar medium... something like solar winds mixed with dark matter. The idea is that it was made of some sort of particles like a photon.

Quantum Foam is more based on the idea that at super small scales particles can pop in and out of existence which creates a foam of sorts and this happens everywhere at all times...

The ideas are similar on the surface but the ether is more about a permanent particle stream that is coming from some where magical

I view space-time as more of the relativistic relationship between energies and masses than anything "ethereal" in and of itself, for it those energies and masses did not exist, space-time would be largely meaningless.

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"Toward no crimes have men shown themselves so cold-bloodedly cruel as in punishing differences of belief." - James Russell Lowell

Nope. Ether is a word that refers to a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group (an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups).

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Conscious reasoning is an attempt to justify the choice after it has been made.

I tend to agree with you on this, but i'm not sure how expansion of space-time is explained at the large distances away where it is close to and maybe superluminal.

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ooops..... wrong forum!!!

Yes, that's what I meant, but only because I did not realize that quantum foam has been observed where there is "something", if that's the point you're making. I understand that on the atomic level, no atom or particle can be "tracked" and that they are apparantly popping into and out of existence continually, and that every clump of matter in the universe is comprised of these "now you see it now you don't" atoms/particles. Is that the same thing as quantum foam? Hey, with each dumb question, I learn a little more. Thanks guys (and gals if that fits)!

Lindon - suppose you read this, then you should be able to answer your own question.

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"Toward no crimes have men shown themselves so cold-bloodedly cruel as in punishing differences of belief." - James Russell Lowell

Thanks for that link mugaliens. Actually, I HAD read that before and not long ago. In fact, it was after my last post and the response provided by 01101001 that I did the Google search and found that article. From it, I get that quantum foam definitely is not Einstein's "ether". I thought I had it all figured out, then 01101001 threw me the curveball. So which is it: quantum foam is only in "the void" as described by Wikipedia, or it could also be "where there is something" as roundabout suggested by 01101001 in his question to me?

I'm sure Ken G will step in if I get this wrong, but from what I understand, it's everywhere, whether in the interstellar reaches, at the event horizons of BH's, or in your elbow.

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"Toward no crimes have men shown themselves so cold-bloodedly cruel as in punishing differences of belief." - James Russell Lowell

Here's a recent article on universetoday.com that specifically describes how we might create a black hole.

Black Hole Drive Could Power Future Starships

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11...ure-starships/

There an ArXiv paper on it.

Is this realistic?

I wouldnt make a synthetic black hole. They really suck.

No, you have a jar full of space.