Abstract

Present-day theories of the Universe call for all kinds strange things to exist in order to maintain their viability. In fact, it seems the more we know about the Universe, the stranger it gets. Must all of this be so? Or could there just be a problem with the premise on which theories are built? According to Newton's First Law, a body in motion tries to maintain a straight line of travel. There are no exceptions to the rule because it is thought to be an act of Nature. However, this paper argues that unrealized effects from circular motion point to the underlying cause of its tendency to move in a straight line. A phenomenon is then described by which circular motion is force-free by Nature, while space and time each remain separate and absolute entities. Ultimately, it is argued that the Universe can be explained more easily in terms of an appropriately defined force-free circular motion, and that it provides a key to a simple theory of everything. Note: Portions of this paper (enclosed in brackets) have been revised for the purpose of clarification.