  The Lorentz aether theory was the mathematically equivalent precursor to the
special theory of relativity (SR). It assumed the existence of a static aether
filling space in which particles are affected by the Lorentz factor for length
contraction to explain the null result of the Michelson-Morley experiment.
However, it was early abandoned in favour of SR due to the apparent arbitrary
introduction of the Lorentz factor. The aether has thereafter been assumed not
to exist as it is seemingly undetectable and not needed for the SR. In this
discussion paper it is argued that this reasoning to reject the aether is
unfounded since the Lorentz factor also appears as an increased resistance term
in fluid dynamics when the speed of sound is approached. This means that, for
example, particle accelerator tests of the Lorentz factor can be interpreted as
a form of detection of a fluidic aether. Furthermore, it is shown that the
mass-energy equivalence is identical to the energy for compression of a fluid
with the speed of sound equal to the speed of light. It is thus possible that
the aether not only exists but that it also is the matter all particles are
made of.
