A Beginner's View of Our Electric Universe - New

Dr. Charles E R Bruce (1902 – 1979) [5-5]
A Scotsman who was an astrophysicist and writer, born near Glasgow and
educated at Edinburgh University; Dr. Bruce was to become known as a
leading expert on the causes and effects of lightning. His insights allowed
him to link what we observe regarding lightning behaviour here on Earth
with the activities he had observed at the photosphere ‘surface’ of the Sun,
which by implication, would also apply to the photospheres of all other stars
of the same type. Bruce used his scientific awareness of lightning within his
considerations of the action taking place in the Sun’s photosphere because
he viewed it as also being electrical in nature. From the credible scientific
position he established through this approach, he was able to provide answers
to puzzling questions that had arisen from observations of the Sun; questions
that standard astronomy had previously not been able to answer.
His work in this respect included the observed variability of star energy, as
indicated by changes in the ‘radiant brightness’ that some of them display.
Charles E R Bruce
In addressing this, he believed that the Sun’s surface was being subjected to
the equivalent of lightning strikes here on Earth, with the exception that these would be on a much larger scale
of power, number and frequency of occurrence. From this, he went on to suggest that the variability of star
brightness could be explained through an association with a variation in the electric driving force that a star
experiences on its plasmasphere from its surrounding cosmic environment.
Bruce expanded this view to encompass electrical events in the more distant reaches of space, notably where
Novae were concerned. He suggested that a nova event was electrical in nature and that it did not necessarily
represent the death of a star. This was in stark opposition to the standard idea of gravitational collapse producing a
nova event when a star dies. Although Bruce adhered to standard theory regarding the non-proven thermonuclear
model for star operation, his preference was always for tangible proof, especially where it could be obtained
through observation and experiment. Through his core adherence to a pragmatic approach, and in the eyes of
many of his colleagues, the output of his research activities was viewed as having come from sound practical
foundations. Significantly, he continued in this vein to suggest the existence of Quasars, and that these were
born from galactic scale electrical discharges.
Thinking as he did, Bruce was the man who introduced the word ‘electricity’ into astronomy. This, however,
spelled disaster for him as his theories began to spread and eventually become ignored by the mainstream. The
day is coming, however, when Dr. Bruce will be vindicated and recognised as the visionary man he was.
| The work of the honourable but ignored