Introduction

In the late 19th century, W. Thomson (“Lord Kelvin”), P. G. Tait and J. Maxwell initiated the vortex-atom theory in an attempt to explain the structure of the universe. They believed that a super-substance – ether – makes up all matter and that atoms are knotted tubes of ether. Knotting is thereby understood as tying a piece of rope and then identifying both of its ends so that the tying cannot be any more undone.