Thomas Townsend Brown

Thomas Townsend Brown (1905–1985) was an American inventor whose lifelong research into electrical phenomena led him to claim the discovery of an anti-gravity effect. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Brown displayed an early interest in electronics, which his family supported with a private laboratory. His academic career included brief stints at the California Institute of Technology and Denison University. In 1930, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in various roles, including research assistant on the submarine S-48 and as a sonar/radio operator. Throughout his career, Brown worked as a consultant and engineer for various entities, including the Glenn L. Martin Company and the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. He also founded the National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) in 1956, though he was later forced out as director. Brown's primary scientific claim involved the 'Biefeld–Brown effect' or 'electrogravitics,' which he believed allowed for the manipulation of gravity through high-voltage electric fields. He developed devices called 'gravitors' and sought to promote them for military and industrial use. However, the scientific community largely attributed the observed movement in his devices to 'ionic drift' or 'electric wind' rather than anti-gravity. Despite his efforts to secure patents and interest from military and corporate establishments, his theories were met with little success. In later years, his work became associated with UFO conspiracy theories, including claims that his technology powered the B-2 Stealth Bomber and the Philadelphia Experiment. Recent studies, including those by NASA, have failed to replicate any anti-gravity effects from his designs.