I'm fascinated by the notion that nothing in our perceived reality is actually solid and that it is everything we perceive as matter is merely constructed of non-solid energy. Admittedly, my knowledge is limited on this subject. I'm studying this independently and would like to know more.
Well, it is a good thing to start with why we see, say, a piece of ice as 'solid', the water in a glass as 'liquid' and the steam from a kettle as 'gas'. They are all made of the same 'type of stuff': they are all made from water molecules. In a gas, those molecules are fairly far apart and don't interact with each other strongly. In a liquid, they are closer and interact significantly, but move past each other. And in the solid, they are fixed in position and interact very strongly.
The reason we see them as 'solid' is that two solids will interact with each other in a way that prevents the atoms from moving past each other. Essentially, the atoms repel each other a bit, which keeps them from moving around in each individual solid piece as well as keeping them from moving past each other for two solid pieces.
For liquids, however, it is possible that the molecules of two different liquids will move past each other, allowing the liquids to mix. But it is also possible that they do NOT and we get a situation like oil and water, where the liquids do NOT mix because of the interactions between the molecules of water and those of oil.
Now, molecules are made from smaller pieces, called atoms. A molecule of water, for example, has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The atoms within the molecule interact much more strongly than those between different molecules, so even in ice (solid water), the atoms in the individual molecules are 'bound' to each other in a way that different molecules are not. This type of bonding is called a chemical bond and is what defines a molecule (a collection of atoms that are bonded together chemically). This is true no matter whether the molecule is part of ice, or liquid water, or steam.
But now we can go down further and look at what atoms are made from. Each atom has a nucleus, which is quite small and is surrounded by a number of electrons. A chemical bond is simply a way that atoms can share electrons. In fact, it is the electrons and their interactions with other electrons that determines that atoms bind together or repel each other (when in different molecules). So 'solidity' ultimately comes from the fact that electrons repel other electrons so atoms do not penetrate other atoms. This is also why atoms 'take up volume'. Electrons simply don't like being in the same space as other electrons. Within an atom, they align themselves in 'orbitals' to keep as far apart as possible while still being close to the nucleus (to which they are attracted).
But once we get smaller than an atom, the notions of 'solid', 'liquid' and 'gas' just don't apply as well. The concepts themselves are more appropriate for collections of atoms, not individual atoms.
Now, like I said, the nucleus of an atom is very small, even compared to an atom (which is itself quite small). The electrons surrounding the nucleus take up most of the 'space' of the atom. But electrons are, as far as we can tell, point particles: they are also very small. Which means an atom is mostly 'empty space'. Well, except that the repulsion of electrons by other electrons keeps that empty space from allowing things in. Well, mostly.
it is quite possible to take particles that don't interact strongly with electrons (such as neutrons) and they will happily go right through an atom. They are NOT kept out by the electrons. So, for a neutron, the atom does act like 'empty space'. Unless, that is, it collides with the nucleus.
Now, the nucleus is very small and at the center of the atom. So different nuclei don't get to interact with each other unless something is done about all those electrons. Even then, the protons and neutrons in the nucleus interact so strongly, that unless the nuclei are forced together very strongly, they will simply bounce off each other. So, in that sense, they can be thought of as 'solid'.
What does it take to get rid of those electrons? Well, if the temperature is high, the atoms in molecules will break out of the molecules because they hit each other so hard. At much higher temperatures (millions of degrees), the atoms hit so hard that the electrons break away and the nuclei can start interacting: that happens inside the core of the sun and such interactions release a LOT of energy.
"What we perceive as our physical material world, is really not physical or material at all, in fact, it is far from it."
Nothing Is Solid & Everything Is Energy – Scientists Explain The World of Quantum Physics
http://www.collective-evolution.com...cs-nothing-is-solid-and-everything-is-energy/
I would take strong issue with this interpretation. The difficulty is defining carefully what it means to be 'physical' or 'material'. As I said before, a lot breaks down in the terminology once we get smaller than an atom.
One may conclude that we are individual observers that are involved in creating our own reality and that the universe is a perceived construct in our consciousness.
This goes *way* farther than the science says.
While I'd like input from our science-minded RFers, I would like to hear from others as well who would accept this or attempt to disprove it.
What, if any, are the holes in this view?
Assuming this is true, what role does our ever elusive consciousness play in this?
What are the spiritual/religious implications?
None that I can see.
