Concerning the theories related to the antigravity device discussed in Chapter Fourteen

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On the Theoretical Basis of the Antigravity Device in Chapter Fourteen

Adapted from other sources

Antigravity is a prediction of Einstein's general theory of relativity. The main properties of gravitational waves include: propagation at the speed of light in a vacuum; carrying energy and information related to their source; being transverse waves, which become planar at great distances; the lowest mode being quadrupole radiation; extremely weak radiation intensity; exceedingly low absorption efficiency by matter, making gravitational waves exceptionally penetrating so that Earth is nearly transparent to them; and possessing two independent polarization states. Gravitational waves are a form of oscillating gravitational fields that propagate at a finite speed.

Chinese name: Antigravity
Nature: A prediction of Einstein’s general relativity
Property 1: Propagation at light speed in a vacuum
Property 2: Transverse wave, planar at a distance
Property 3: Quadrupole as lowest order
Property 4: Extremely weak intensity

Table of Contents

7 Applications

Lifter
Gravity Shield

Prediction

Though Einstein predicted antigravity, in June 1916 he conjectured that accelerated masses might emit gravitational waves. However, the gravitational waves he proposed were dependent on the choice of coordinates; in one reference frame, the waves might carry energy, while in another, they might not. Thus, in the early days, both Einstein and most of his contemporaries were skeptical of gravitational waves. In 1956, Pirani proposed a definition of gravitational waves independent of coordinate choice; in 1957, Bondi theoretically proved the existence of plane gravitational waves, also independent of reference frame. By 1959, Bondi, Pirani, and Robinson further demonstrated that stationary objects could be set into motion by a pulse of gravitational waves, thus indirectly proving that gravitational waves carry energy and can be detected.

Due to the extreme weakness of gravitational radiation, detectable laboratory-generated gravitational waves remained out of reach until the early 21st century. However, dramatic movements of massive celestial bodies—such as binary star orbits, neutron star rotations, supernova explosions, and theoretically predicted black hole formation, collisions, and accretion events—can emit relatively strong gravitational waves.

Gravitational Waves

Scientists at the University of Maryland, led by Joseph Weber, pioneered the use of aluminum bars as antennas to detect these waves and claimed to have detected signals possibly attributable to gravitational waves. However, other scientists could not reproduce these results, and Weber’s conclusions remain unconfirmed. Nonetheless, research into gravitational waves is thriving, and studies into antigravity—also known as negative gravity—are once again progressing. The potential breakthroughs from this research may one day fulfill humanity’s dream of interstellar travel. It is a field worthy of a lifetime’s devotion from scientists, and Chinese researchers have already conducted valuable experiments and studies in this area.

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Since H.G. Wells, the British science fiction author, described "antigravity"—a phenomenon that could shield the effects of gravity, allowing spaceships to fly to the moon—antigravity has become a dream pursued for over a century. Should antigravity be proven real, it would transform the world. Cars, trains, ships, and every transportation system imaginable could be powered by energy drawn from the gravitational field. Such a development would revolutionize the scientific and aerospace communities’ taboos regarding antigravity research. It is rumored that Boeing, the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer, is exploring new concepts that could one day completely overhaul a century of propulsion technology.

2. Research Projects

Boeing launched a project known as the "Gravity Research for Advanced Space Propulsion" (GRASP). According to a document acquired by Jane's Defence Weekly, the significance of this project, should it succeed, would be monumental. The document states: "If antigravity is real, it will revolutionize the entire aerospace industry." This assessment may even be understated. If antigravity exists, all transportation systems could be driven by "propellantless propulsion," a mode of energy extraction from the gravitational field.

3. Systems

It is well known that gravity equals the mass of an object multiplied by its acceleration (g = mg), which explains why we remain on Earth rather than being flung into space. When acceleration is constant, gravity depends on mass—the greater the mass, the stronger the gravitational pull. An antigravity system provides an opposing force to an object; when this force exceeds the object's weight, it can escape Earth’s gravity. When gravity and antigravity reach equilibrium, the object can hover between the atmosphere and the surface. Atmospheric pressure must also be considered. Only when action and reaction forces are balanced can we float, countering Earth’s gravity.

4. Research

Origins

Though antigravity has long been a cherished dream, orthodox science traditionally regarded it as impossible. In April 1992, the late Professor Brian Young of the University of Salford, then head of Britain’s Strategic Aerospace Defense Systems Project, addressed the London Institution of Mechanical Engineers to explain why antigravity research is relevant to aerospace and the world at large. The GRASP briefing clarified why Boeing needed to hire Russian materials expert Eugene Podkletnov, who claimed to have invented a device that could shield the effects of gravity.

Podkletnov’s Paper

In 1992, while at Tampere University of Technology in Finland, Podkletnov submitted a paper to a British physics journal describing how an object placed above a rapidly spinning superconductor (a material that loses resistance at very low temperatures) lost nearly 2% of its weight. This paper was leaked to the press, causing a scandal in mainstream physics due to its association with the taboo concept of "antigravity." Podkletnov was dismissed from the university, but his research drew the attention of NASA, which was already in contact with a University of Alabama at Huntsville researcher who claimed to generate gravity-like fields using rapidly spinning superconductors to repel or attract objects.

NASA Experiments

In the mid-1990s, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama attempted to replicate Podkletnov’s experiment but did not succeed. However, the center admitted that it was essentially working blind, as it did not know the unique methods Podkletnov used to make his superconducting disc.

Podkletnov’s Progress

A few years ago, NASA paid Superconductive Components, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio, $600,000 to build a device similar to Podkletnov’s and hired Podkletnov as a consultant. Although delays occurred, project leader Ron Koczor remained confident of success. Now based at the Moscow Chemical Research Center, Podkletnov further developed his ideas and, together with Italian scientist Giovanni Modanese, published a paper detailing a "gravity impulse generator" that exerts a repulsive force on all objects. The device uses a powerful discharge source ("emitter") and a superconducting "emitter" to create a "gravity impulse." Podkletnov claimed: "The time is very short, and it travels along the discharge path at extraordinary speed—in fact, instantaneously—passing through various objects without significant energy loss." According to the results, any object struck by the beam experienced a force proportional to its mass. Podkletnov, adjusting a laser targeting device, claimed his apparatus could knock down objects a kilometer away and, with the same energy, even at a distance of 200 kilometers. This research into Podkletnov’s "gravity impulse generator" caught Boeing’s attention. In the GRASP briefing, Boeing described how the beam emitted by the device is unaffected by any electromagnetic shielding, penetrating any material to reach its target.

Discovery

There exists a thermoelectric field below Earth’s crust, and surface gravity displays characteristics of a negative electrostatic field. Extensive research shows that many natural phenomena align with this viewpoint, and none contradict it, leading to the description of gravity as a negative electric field attraction. Supporting experiments include "asymmetric capacitors charged with high-voltage DC, with the positive electrode above and the negative below; when the voltage reaches a certain value, the device rises." The electric field force generated opposes Earth’s field, thus termed "antigravity." This principle can reasonably explain the accelerating recession of stellar systems and allows for a coherent definition of "cosmic antigravity."

5. New Perspectives

The forthcoming discussion on antigravity differs from the mysterious "repulsion between objects and Earth" or "repulsion between objects." Newton’s third law asserts that any object’s levitation must result from exerting a force on another object and receiving a reaction. However, modern physics has shown, through studies of electromagnetic phenomena, that Newton’s third law does not always apply in such cases. This offers the possibility of creating objects using electromagnetic principles that do not obey Newton’s third law. In the simplest scenario, if two dynamic point charges satisfy three conditions, the forces they experience will both point in the same direction, with magnitudes varying sinusoidally, yielding a nonzero, stable resultant force. These conditions are: the charge on each dynamic point changes sinusoidally, with zero at equilibrium; the phase difference is one-quarter of a cycle; and the distance between them is an integer number of wavelengths plus a quarter wavelength. If the resultant force is always directed opposite to gravity, it can reduce or cancel gravity, or even provide additional lift, independent of support from other objects. This is conducive to building the imagined flying saucer-like craft.

6. Current Status

International Research

Russian physicist Eugene Podkletnov, working at Tampere University in Finland, discovered an antigravity phenomenon through experimentation, sparking intense debate among scientists worldwide, particularly in physics. NASA decided to repeat the experiment. Podkletnov’s test was not especially complex: he spun a superconducting ceramic disc at -210°C at 5,000 revolutions per minute. A variety of objects—metal, wood, or plastic—placed on the disc all experienced some weight loss, averaging 1%; depending on their material, the reduction ranged from 0.5% to 2%. Podkletnov attributed this solely to antigravity.

Luc Blanchet, a renowned expert in astrophysics and cosmology, commented, "If there is no fraud in this experiment, these results can only be explained by the theory of the gravitational magnetic field." If Podkletnov’s experiment is confirmed, it would be a landmark discovery in physics. Following the news, both The Physicist, published by the British Institute of Technology, and The Sunday Telegraph raced to cover the controversy. Podkletnov, however, refused to publish his findings in any journal but did not object to NASA repeating his experiment.

NASA is developing an antigravity craft—a bold leap into a new era of space exploration. Historically, scientists dismissed the construction of antigravity craft as absurd. Yet, at a rare, closed-door meeting at NASA’s Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, scientists from top universities, national weapons labs, defense contractors, and major corporations gathered to hear detailed briefings on NASA’s antigravity craft project. The absence of media was notable, but interviews revealed that at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, a NASA team was close to building an antigravity craft that could reduce gravitational pull around rockets—a secrecy partly because such a device contradicts conventional scientific wisdom.

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On gravity, Newtonian mechanics and Einstein’s relativity are two complementary but not wholly consistent theories. Newton described gravity as a mutual attraction between masses, independent of space and time, while Einstein posited that mass causes curvature in surrounding spacetime—like a heavy ball making a depression on a soft mattress. Both theories explain why apples fall from trees, but Einstein’s brilliance lies in explaining why even massless light bends in a strong gravitational field. In this view, gravity becomes one of the universe’s fundamental properties, making the notion of an antigravity machine seem absurd to many scientists.

Yet, not all agree. At least one NASA researcher, Ron Koczor, saw things differently. At the meeting, he co-authored a paper revealing the inside story of antigravity machine development. Koczor wrote: "In 1992, Dr. Eugene Podkletnov of Tampere University performed experiments using ceramic superconductors. He magnetized a superconducting disc, levitated it, and spun it at thousands of revolutions per minute in the presence of an external magnetic field. During the experiment, Podkletnov observed a measurable loss of weight in objects placed above the spinning disc, with reductions ranging from 0.5 to 2 percent. He offered no further explanation." Podkletnov did not stop there; over the next four years, he prepared to publish his results in the authoritative journal Physics. Days before publication in autumn 1996, however, a journalist revealed that one of Podkletnov’s collaborators denied involvement. Podkletnov withdrew his paper and returned to the Chemical Science Center in Moscow. Many likened this episode to cold fusion and quickly lost interest. Yet, not every scientist doubted the withdrawn paper.

Theorist Li Ning, who worked with NASA’s Marshall Center, published three influential articles suggesting that superconductors spinning in strong magnetic fields could disrupt local gravity. Meanwhile, a senior researcher at the University of Alabama spent years constructing superconducting discs for NASA’s antigravity project. NASA spokesman Vette Blankley said scientists had decided two years prior to replicate Podkletnov’s machine. By refining earlier designs and exchanging information with Podkletnov via phone and email, they continued to glean new insights—"We are like hunters," Blankley said. NASA cannot guarantee that the nearly complete antigravity device will be trouble-free.

The greatest current challenge is manufacturing the fragile superconducting discs. The device consists of two discs: a superconducting one on top and a metallic one below. During experiments, the device is housed in a 20-inch diameter, four-foot-tall cylinder filled with liquid helium or nitrogen to cool the discs near absolute zero. Only then can the superconducting disc be spun. According to Podkletnov, placing a half-inch iron disc near the apparatus produces observable anomalies in gravitational measurements, demonstrating that the superconducting disc alters gravity.

Many physicists now believe that once NASA activates its antigravity machine, miracles in the vacuum of space may occur, heralding a countdown to a new era of space exploration.

Domestic Overview

China’s antigravity technology began in 1978 and now enjoys a promising future, leading internationally. The main types are centrifugal conversion, ** type, and virtualization-reappearance type. The centrifugal conversion type dates back to a pioneering 1978 paper by Mr. Yang Zhongxiu in Changchun; in 1982, Li Ruijin developed the first prototype. Since then, the present author has tested dozens of engineering power device models with various features (photos in the text showcase a prototype centrifugal antigravity model with planetary structure and vertical phase inversion). These experiments are nearing completion; some have been patented, and prospects are bright. Comrade Dong Changjun’s antigravity device has also emerged, reportedly with good results and patent protection. The ** type is progressing well, with nearly 100 experiments and several special studies completed, laying the groundwork for the highest-level models and entering the preparatory phase for system engineering prototypes. Due to its advanced capabilities, it is expected to become the first choice for unconventional aerospace propulsion and military transport. Notably, experiments revealed that this type emits a special energetic radiation, considered foundational for advanced models. The ** type may become practical within five years. Furthermore, the virtualization-reappearance type, with over a hundred theoretical topics essentially resolved and supported by relevant experiments, represents the highest stage of material-energy field transformation. Three engineering methods can render matter into energetic virtual states, enabling it to enter supra-three-dimensional space for invisibility and antigravity. This type, though requiring further effort and time, is expected to yield a prototype within ten years.

Research into antigravity challenges traditional science—arduous and tortuous, yet hopeful and alluring. The dedicated will press forward undaunted. In the early years, Mr. Yao Cheng from Yingkou, Liaoning, proposed the theory that "the essence of gravity is electric field force," systematically discussing the principles of antigravity in this framework and applying for intellectual property protection in August 2002. Upon seeing a planar phase-inverted centrifugal core assembly, Li Ruijin called it a parallel innovation; when he saw the planetary-structured device, he acknowledged its undisputed lead, filling him with national pride.

A sweeping revolution in antigravity technology is foreseeable in China.

7. Applications

Lifter

In recent years, the grassroots "lifter" movement, centered in Seattle, has spread worldwide. The race to build these so-called "antigravity" flying devices has obsessed thousands of enthusiasts. U.S. authorities also hope to monopolize the technology for space projects. The history of the lifter can be traced to the 1920s, with American inventor Thomas Townsend Brown as its pioneer. The term "lifter" derives from his work. Born to wealth, Brown was a tinkerer from childhood. While at university, under Professor Paul Biefeld, he noticed a curious phenomenon during capacitor experiments: when supplied with high voltage, a faint thrust appeared in a specific direction. He called this the Biefeld-Brown effect, yet he was soon forgotten. Brown was skilled with his hands but not with theory; though he made bold, if naive, hypotheses—such as his capacitors generating fields interacting with Earth’s gravity—he never provided rigorous explanations, and so failed to gain scientific recognition. Still, he was confident his invention could drive the world: "Multiton gravity engines may become the ocean liners or even the miraculous 'space cars' of the future, powering Mars-bound spacecraft. Who knows?" In the 1930s, Brown worked for the U.S. Navy, continuing to build ever-larger capacitors. His experiments peaked in 1952, when he demonstrated before scientists and military officers that two 2-foot metal discs mounted at the ends of a 10-foot shaft, powered by 50 watts at 50,000 volts, could rotate at 16 revolutions per second. This showed the importance of his invention, yet for unknown reasons, Brown faded into obscurity. The Pentagon never pursued the technology, investors showed no interest, and his fascination with UFOs and their propulsion—he even formed a committee to hunt for alleged "little green men"—damaged his reputation in orthodox circles, branding him a madman.

He was virtually forgotten for decades until a late-1990s enthusiast revived his legacy. NASA subcontractor Jeff Cameron, recalling a quivering motion in a capacitor and a classroom mention of the Biefeld-Brown effect, researched Brown’s patents and became convinced the effect was real. He built a stable triangular flying device from lightweight wood, with a wire coil atop for high voltage, aluminum foil below, and a 3–5 cm gap between, claiming that this setup produced upward thrust—the Biefeld-Brown effect. When high voltage was applied, the craft rose into the air—the birth of the lifter.

In June 2001, Cameron posted lifter photos online. In early 2002, 26-year-old Tim Ventura, inspired by Cameron’s design, built his own lifter, which also flew. Unstoppable, he produced more units than anyone else, opened the "American Antigravity" website in Seattle to collect lifter flight videos and theories, and detailed construction methods. The lifter movement became a global phenomenon, with Seattle as its hub. Millions of enthusiasts visited Ventura’s site, and the media flocked to his lab. One of his 4-foot-wide lifters could lift nearly a pound. Is this "ion wind"? Unfortunately, antigravity research has long been plagued by pseudoscience and lacks acceptance in scientific circles. Mainstream scientists laugh off antigravity, insisting that lifters are propelled by ion wind: as current flows through the top wire, escaping electrons ionize the air, ions are attracted to the lower foil, collide with air molecules, and generate a downward wind. MIT gravity expert Rainer Weiss said, "There’s nothing mysterious about this." To him, lifters differ little from hovercraft.

Lifter enthusiasts acknowledge ion wind. In fact, Brown himself described his invention as an ion wind engine, and one can indeed feel wind beneath a lifter. The builders admit their creations merely leave the ground—falling short of true antigravity. Yet some argue that ion wind is not the only explanation, as certain capacitor lifters reportedly fly in vacuum, where no air is present, suggesting some mysterious unknown force at work.

"Toy" or not, lifters may change the world. NASA has hired scientists to research lifters and, in one summer, secured a patent for the technology, with chief scientist Jonathan Campbell as inventor. The public was outraged, viewing lifters as open-source, akin to free software for public benefit. NASA, however, maintained that patenting the technology was meant to serve society.

At the media’s request, NASA conducted a vacuum test, but the lifter failed to fly. NASA scientists do not believe lifters can operate in vacuum or that there is any new physics involved, but they still consider the technology worth researching due to its advantages over conventional propulsion: no moving parts, no onboard fuel, and remote energy delivery. NASA envisions using lifters for space propulsion, perhaps in future Mars exploration.

Certainly, lifters are still like toys. But as French aerospace writer Alexandre Chames observed, "In 1871, the first airplane tested was little more than a toy, and was ridiculed."

Gravity Shield

In science fiction, there is often a concept of antigravity—a device capable of partially or fully altering gravitational effects. Placing such a device under an object could reduce or eliminate gravity’s influence, allowing the object to float away from Earth with minimal force. According to Newton’s law, gravity is a point-to-point force. From this perspective, it is possible that a gravitational field could be shielded by another field, just as a magnetic field can be blocked by diamagnetic materials.