A Beginner's View of Our Electric Universe

Contents

Reviewer Comments

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

1    What the problem is

2    The thinking that got us here

3    We are waiting for answers to these questions

4    Some basic theory that will help

5    The work of the honourable but ignored

6    The Electric Universe answers I see

7    A final word

References in the book

Copyright

Reviewer comments

Tom Findlay’s book is a remarkable contribution from a newcomer to the Electric Universe. He shows the impact that this new and simpler way of seeing the universe can have on a practical man with a keen interest in astronomy. A Beginner’s View is easy to read and copiously illustrated. Tom makes a heartfelt plea for individuals to participate in science once more; to use their intuition and common-sense to question the science fiction headlines and gross expenditure on massive projects. After all, history shows most great breakthroughs are made by individuals, most of them outsiders.

Wallace Thornhill, lead author and researcher of The Electric Universe

Newcomers to the idea of electricity in space are apt to find even the possibility of electrical explanations for cosmic phenomena to be unfamiliar and therefore startling. This book provides a comfortable transition from familiar gravity-based explanations to a basic understanding of plasma behavior and its manifestations in stars and galaxies. The book will ease the surprise and enable the reader to better understand the more technical publications in this new way of thinking about the universe.

Meldon Acheson

One of the biggest challenges facing modern science is ensuring that the members of the general public fully understand what has been achieved in all areas of science and what is proposed for future research. This is vital because it is that public which eventually pays the bill for the ‘games scientists play’. The advocates of certain theories have been eminently successful in this enterprise but the end result has been that the public has been left woefully ignorant of many of the very real controversies existing. This is especially true in the general area of astronomy/astrophysics. For a great many years now, that general area has been dominated by theories which elevate the force of gravity to a dominant position, while ignoring the possible effects of the much much stronger electromagnetic force. Workers in the field covered by the names plasma cosmology and electric universe have attempted to rectify this position. However, most of the existing material in this area is hardly in a form for consumption by the general public. This present book by Tom Findlay, A Beginner’s View of Our Electric Universe, is an excellent attempt to rectify this situation. In it, readers will find explanations for a great number of astrophysical phenomena in terms of electric universe ideas; some even clear up situations not understood on the basis of currently accepted conventional wisdom. Although in a sense a ‘popular’ science book, this book will require the reader to concentrate if a real understanding is the requirement but that concentration will be very well rewarded at the end and the reader will realise just how much more there is to learn about our solar system, our galaxy and even our universe than is portrayed in present ‘pop-science’ books in the area. I urge all to read this book, digest its contents and finish with a fuller, more complete understanding of our wonderful universe that will open the door for delving deeper into the greater technical detail available in books and on websites published and maintained by the researchers at the core of this topic.

Dr Jeremy Dunning-Davies, Hull University Physics Department (retired) and author of Exploding a Myth

Reading this book left me with the impression that it could be considered encyclopedic in its breadth of description of the elements of science and observation that are basic to the Electric Universe paradigm. By addressing the most interesting and provocative detail of the Electric Universe model, this book covers the bases that lead to the more technical Essential Guide to the Electric Universe. If this straightforward read doesn’t get lay people as well as astronomers and astro-scientists to thinking about what today’s observations might really mean, and how to effectively incorporate better explanations into the fabric of the science being taught to our students all over the world, then it’s hard to imagine what will. The illustrations spread throughout are a valuable element, for we all see and understand much better when details can be explained graphically. The NASA images, without much further discussion, or, too often, ill-conceived conjecture based on old assumptions, say much more than words alone. Tom’s own illustrations are clear, artistically done, and convey the appropriate fundamentals of electricity and electrodynamics in a way almost anyone can pick up. The book’s organization is clear and concise, and follows a logical path from beginning to end. The nod that is given to the scientists, whom history is apparently trying to relegate to the dust bin, is also appreciated. It is true that unfortunate things have happened as good science has been ignored in the past, but change is now afoot, and this book is an example of the rash of material now appearing, which by presenting relevant elements of the history of scientific revolutions and the discoveries that have arisen from them, opens the door to the inescapable realization that the old order in astro-science will be replaced in a generation or two. This will be the first introduction to the Electric Universe for a lot of people. I think that for many it will be the start of a lifelong change of perspective and knowledge about what kind of Universe we are an intrinsic part of.

Jim Johnson - Electric Universe researcher and editor of The Essential Guide to the Electric Universe

In general I feel strongly that this book will serve nicely as another brick in the wall of evidence that will be convincing to the average reader. Anyone who has interest enough to read it cannot go away without having the feeling that: the EU has a great deal to offer modern astro-science; the power structure of modern astro-science is reacting irrationally to our suggestions; an honest, intelligent man who does not pretend to have expertise in astro-science, but who does have a deep interest in it wrote this work. The author also clearly has the ability to incisively ferret out subtle errors as well as obvious nonsense arguments and baseless assumptions. The style is very appealing.

Dr Donald E Scott - Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst (retired) and author of "The Electric Sky".

Dedication

For my wife Nora, my sweetheart and best friend and for our two great sons, Ben and Jon.

This book is also available in printed form and as a free Adobe PDF download at www.newtoeu.com

Acknowledgements

I claim no originality for any aspect of science theory in this book. All I have done is attempt to produce my own interpretation of the work of experts in these subjects. The people from whose work I have drawn and those who have helped me significantly along the way include:

David Talbott and Wallace Thornhill – Dave and Wal, my admiration for your work and dedication to this subject is total. What I have learned from your individual and combined works has provided a new understanding that has allowed me to see further and clearer than my previous horizon. Dave, you saw my eagerness and perhaps some potential so you supported me and opened doors that I would nev