Behold this pink stone! It is the Gravity Research Foundation Monument. It stands as a reminder of one man’s battle against gravity. This monument isn’t just a marker. It’s a symbol of a lifelong quest. A quest to understand and control the force that binds us to the Earth.
Roger Babson founded the Gravity Research Foundation in 1948. He also erected this monument in 1963. Babson wasn’t just any man. He predicted the stock market crash. He even ran for president. His mission was unique. He wanted to rid the Earth of gravity’s supposed evils.
Babson’s obsession with gravity stemmed from a personal tragedy. His sister drowned when she was young. He blamed gravity. He felt it seized her like a dragon, pulling her under. He wrote about it in his essay. It was titled “Gravity – Our Enemy Number One.” In it, he held gravity responsible for countless deaths. He cited plane crashes, broken bones and intestinal issues.
The Gravity Research Foundation aimed to discover a gravity shield. They wanted to protect people from its harmful effects. In the 1960s, the GRF gave grants to colleges. Emory University was one of them. The grant money supported anti-gravity projects. Each college also received a monolith. This monument. It was meant to inspire students. It reminded them of the blessings that would come. Blessings would arrive when science controlled gravity.
The Gravity Research Foundation Monument quickly became popular with students here at Emory. When the science center put it in storage, alumni protested. They wanted it back. The monument was reinstalled due to their efforts. It seems that the Gravity Research Foundation Monument served as a gathering point for students and researchers.
The Gravity Research Foundation still exists. It’s well-respected despite its unusual origins. It holds an annual essay contest on gravity-related topics. Impressively, several winners have gone on to win the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Take a moment to read the inscription. It reminds us of the blessings forthcoming. These blessings will come when science determines what gravity is. Also how it works. And how it may be controlled. This Gravity Research Foundation Monument stands as a testament. It represents human curiosity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. It is a tangible reminder of the ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of our universe.