Alex McColgan

And in spite of all these observations throughout the years, Vulcan was never repeatedly observed. It was never seen during a solar eclipse again. In time, that corroborated sighting was put down to calculation errors and misidentifying a known star. But ultimately, the one who finally put the idea of Vulcan to rest was Albert Einstein, and he did so by thinking of something completely different.

And in spite of all these observations throughout the years, Vulcan was never repeatedly observed. It was never seen during a solar eclipse again. In time, that corroborated sighting was put down to calculation errors and misidentifying a known star. But ultimately, the one who finally put the idea of Vulcan to rest was Albert Einstein, and he did so by thinking of something completely different.

Numerous scientists over the years had attempted to see Le Verrier's planet Vulcan, because mathematically, they were certain it had to exist. Newtonian physics demanded that it did. They strained to see it, and in that confirmation bias, they did see it, again and again, just never in the same place. But Einstein realised that it was Newtonian physics that was at fault.

Numerous scientists over the years had attempted to see Le Verrier's planet Vulcan, because mathematically, they were certain it had to exist. Newtonian physics demanded that it did. They strained to see it, and in that confirmation bias, they did see it, again and again, just never in the same place. But Einstein realised that it was Newtonian physics that was at fault.

Numerous scientists over the years had attempted to see Le Verrier's planet Vulcan, because mathematically, they were certain it had to exist. Newtonian physics demanded that it did. They strained to see it, and in that confirmation bias, they did see it, again and again, just never in the same place. But Einstein realised that it was Newtonian physics that was at fault.

In 1915, he proposed a model of physics that accurately described the motion of the universe, but relied on things like curvature of spacetime rather than gravity. At slow speeds, it looked a lot like Newtonian physics, but when you placed objects like Mercury next to very massive objects like the Sun, Special relativity predicted a different path for their orbits.

In 1915, he proposed a model of physics that accurately described the motion of the universe, but relied on things like curvature of spacetime rather than gravity. At slow speeds, it looked a lot like Newtonian physics, but when you placed objects like Mercury next to very massive objects like the Sun, Special relativity predicted a different path for their orbits.

In 1915, he proposed a model of physics that accurately described the motion of the universe, but relied on things like curvature of spacetime rather than gravity. At slow speeds, it looked a lot like Newtonian physics, but when you placed objects like Mercury next to very massive objects like the Sun, Special relativity predicted a different path for their orbits.

And sure enough, Einstein's model predicted the exact orbit that Mercury made around the Sun, deviations and all. And with that, the case for Vulcan's existence evaporated. Under special relativity, it couldn't exist. there could be no object next to the Sun of a planetary size, or it would mess with Mercury's orbit so that it would no longer line up with the maths.

And sure enough, Einstein's model predicted the exact orbit that Mercury made around the Sun, deviations and all. And with that, the case for Vulcan's existence evaporated. Under special relativity, it couldn't exist. there could be no object next to the Sun of a planetary size, or it would mess with Mercury's orbit so that it would no longer line up with the maths.

And sure enough, Einstein's model predicted the exact orbit that Mercury made around the Sun, deviations and all. And with that, the case for Vulcan's existence evaporated. Under special relativity, it couldn't exist. there could be no object next to the Sun of a planetary size, or it would mess with Mercury's orbit so that it would no longer line up with the maths.

And this time, Einstein was able to prove his maths correct through tests like the Eddington experiment. There is a lesson in this somewhere. Sometimes, if we want something too much, we find it regardless of whether it is really there or not. Sometimes it takes thinking outside the box and challenging our previously held beliefs before the truth can be found out.

And this time, Einstein was able to prove his maths correct through tests like the Eddington experiment. There is a lesson in this somewhere. Sometimes, if we want something too much, we find it regardless of whether it is really there or not. Sometimes it takes thinking outside the box and challenging our previously held beliefs before the truth can be found out.

And this time, Einstein was able to prove his maths correct through tests like the Eddington experiment. There is a lesson in this somewhere. Sometimes, if we want something too much, we find it regardless of whether it is really there or not. Sometimes it takes thinking outside the box and challenging our previously held beliefs before the truth can be found out.

As scientists, and equally as laypeople, it's important that we do not hold too tightly to our ideas. The truth does not need our fervour. It will prove itself, given time and opportunities for repetition. So, there you have it. The planet Vulcan. A planet of fire that was nothing but smoke and mirrors. A yearning for something, but never a reality.

As scientists, and equally as laypeople, it's important that we do not hold too tightly to our ideas. The truth does not need our fervour. It will prove itself, given time and opportunities for repetition. So, there you have it. The planet Vulcan. A planet of fire that was nothing but smoke and mirrors. A yearning for something, but never a reality.

As scientists, and equally as laypeople, it's important that we do not hold too tightly to our ideas. The truth does not need our fervour. It will prove itself, given time and opportunities for repetition. So, there you have it. The planet Vulcan. A planet of fire that was nothing but smoke and mirrors. A yearning for something, but never a reality.

Newtonian physics were replaced by Einstein's theories of relativity, and now special relativity is here to stay. At least until it is supplanted by something even more comprehensive too. High above us, circling the Earth once every 90 minutes, the Prospero satellite floats through space.

Newtonian physics were replaced by Einstein's theories of relativity, and now special relativity is here to stay. At least until it is supplanted by something even more comprehensive too. High above us, circling the Earth once every 90 minutes, the Prospero satellite floats through space.

Newtonian physics were replaced by Einstein's theories of relativity, and now special relativity is here to stay. At least until it is supplanted by something even more comprehensive too. High above us, circling the Earth once every 90 minutes, the Prospero satellite floats through space.