When most people talk about "aether" they seem to mean the "luminiferous aether" which propagated light waves like water propagates water waves. The problem wit

When most people talk about "aether" they seem to mean the "luminiferous aether" which propagated light waves like water propagates water waves. The problem with that theory was demonstrated by the Michelson-Morley experiment: The speed of light does not change regardless of how you move relative to the light source. Light can't be a wave like water waves are. The luminiferous aether is therefore disproven. Applying the term "aether" to other theories is uncommon, especially among non-physicists.