Picture yourself standing on a ball that is expanding at such a rate that it makes you stick to the ball. Everything in the universe is expanding at this same rate. To escape the earths gravitational pull we would need to jet upward faster than the expansion of the earth. Each object expands at a different rate on its surface according to its size. Thus different gravity affects for different size planets.
When in space we are subject to being affected by the most distant body if we stand in its way.
I just can not explain the reaction of our tides with our moon.
Have any scientists seriously considered an idea like this?
Follow up July 23
I am no scientist, but I think someone with more knowledge might explore this idea a little further.
At the very lease the idea that every thing in the total universe is expanding, including all parts of the atom can be used as a simple way to see formulas and the same results to the effects of gravity of anything on the surface of a sphere planet or a donut shaped planet.
The area of mass will grow but the density will remain the same.
The idea can be cross referenced by light shifting etc, to see if it falls in line with the known action of planet gravity and the known expansion affect of the whole universe.
Maybe the gravity affect of a planet on its surface dweller is a completely different force than is the force that maintains the orbits of planets. keplers law I believe.
What happens when we have an eclipse of the moon?, does the earths orbit around the sun change for time of this eclipse?
My summary is that if all scientists can not explain gravity totally, then maybe the common thought for all these years is not completely a correct one.