No mention is made of Maxwell's classical objection that the ether cannot be molecular, for if it were, all the energy of the universe would have been transferred into it. He notes incidentally ...

Next, the researchers plan to explore other small-molecule catalysts that could have enzyme-like characteristics for making other classes of chemicals. They also will continue to explore ether ...

If we had to do merely with the ether that fills the interplanetary space and conveys energy through it, we could confine our attention to the mass and neglect the chemical nature of the ether.