Edward W. Morley was an American chemist and physicist, best known for his work in the late 19th century. He is most famous for the Michelson-Morley experiment, which he conducted with Albert A. Michelson in 1887. This experiment aimed to detect the presence of the luminiferous aether, a substance once thought to fill space and carry light waves. Morley's research significantly contributed to the development of modern physics. The results of the experiment showed no evidence of aether, leading to the eventual formulation of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. Morley's work helped pave the way for new understandings of light and motion in the universe.