ether
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airwaves
An outdated term for the medium through which radio and television signals are transmitted. People say that a broadcast 'über den Äther geht' (goes over the airwaves).
Die Rede des Präsidenten ging gestern Abend live über den Äther.
The president's speech went out live over the airwaves last night.
The four meanings of 'Äther' (ether) are very different. The context makes clear what is meant: media (radio/TV), chemistry/medicine, poetry (sky), or the history of science (physics).
Die Band gab ihr erstes Interview, das live über den Äther ging.
The band gave their first interview, which went out live over the airwaves.
In connection with media, 'Äther' (airwaves) is used almost only in the fixed expressions 'über den Äther gehen' (to go out over the airwaves) or 'in den Äther senden' (to broadcast into the airwaves). It describes the broadcasting of a program.
Früher versammelte sich die ganze Familie, wenn eine wichtige Nachricht über den Äther ging.
In the past, the whole family would gather when an important piece of news went out over the airwaves.
When the topic is smell, a laboratory, an operation, or anesthesia, the chemical substance is meant. This use often refers to historical medicine.
Die Entdeckung des Äthers als Narkosemittel revolutionierte die Chirurgie.
The discovery of ether as an anesthetic revolutionized surgery.
The meaning 'Himmel' (sky) or 'Weltall' (outer space) is elevated and poetic. You find it mainly in poems, older literature, or very figurative language.
In dem Gedicht steigt die Seele der Heldin in den Äther auf.
In the poem, the heroine's soul rises into the ether.
This meaning is found exclusively in texts about the history of physics. It concerns an obsolete theory about the propagation of light.
Einstein widerlegte mit seiner Relativitätstheorie die Existenz des Äthers.
With his theory of relativity, Einstein disproved the existence of the ether.
medium
'das Medium' and 'der Äther' can both have to do with the transmission of signals or broadcasts. 'Medium' is a normal and general term today, for example for radio, television, or the internet as a channel of information. In science, it can also mean an environment through which something is transmitted. In this context, 'Äther' is an outdated or fixed expression, especially in the phrase 'über den Äther gehen' (to go out over the airwaves). The words can be confused because 'Äther' used to be understood as a kind of transmission medium. In everyday language, however, people usually say 'Medium'; 'Äther' sounds old-fashioned, technical-historical, or poetic.
Die Radiosendung geht morgen Abend wieder über den Äther.
The radio show will go out over the airwaves again tomorrow evening.
Für aktuelle Nachrichten ist das Internet heute ein wichtiges Medium.
Today, the internet is an important medium for current news.