Formation of Quarks: What's Nothing Made Of?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of "nothing" and its relation to the formation of fundamental particles, specifically quarks. Participants explore theoretical frameworks, philosophical implications, and the nature of energy and matter.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how something can be made from nothing, raising philosophical and scientific implications.
  • One participant suggests that pure vacuum, which is thought to be devoid of matter, does not truly exist due to quantum fluctuations.
  • Another participant introduces string theory, proposing that fundamental particles are made of oscillating "strings of energy," though the meaning of this is unclear to them.
  • Loop quantum gravity is mentioned as a theory that views spacetime as composed of discrete chunks, with fundamental particles potentially being braids in these connections.
  • Some argue that everything is made of "nothing," which is paradoxically considered "something," and relate this to energy condensing into particles.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the standard model of particle physics, suggesting that it merely raises further questions rather than providing definitive answers about quarks.
  • There is a contention about the definition of "nothing," with some asserting it is an impossible state while others argue that energy is always present.
  • A humorous remark is made about a bottle labeled "Nothing," which adds a light-hearted element to the discussion.
  • One participant expresses frustration with the direction of the thread, suggesting it has devolved into silliness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a range of views on the nature of "nothing" and its implications for fundamental particles. There is no consensus on the definitions or theories discussed, and multiple competing perspectives remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various assumptions about the nature of energy and matter, the validity of different theoretical frameworks, and the limitations of current understanding in physics. Some statements rely on interpretations of quantum mechanics and theoretical physics that are not universally accepted.

astro2cosmos
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Is there any thing which is made of NOTHING?
Since energy is conserved, so when anything is form it must be something at last time, then what about the formation of fundamental element QUARKS...
 
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how could you make something out of nothing?
 
The only thing that could be composed of nothing is pure vacuum, which doesn't actually exist. Even in what might appear to be a pure vacuum, there are quantum fluctuations.
 
I think he means what are fundamental particles made out of.

String theory talks about oscillating "strings of energy" being the basis of the fundamental particles, though I don't know what is actually meant by that.

There is another theory, loop quantum gravity, which conceives of space time as being made up of minuscule chunks connected together by abstract links. Some think that the fundamental particles are actually braids in the links which connect these volumes of space. In which case we would actually http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19125645.800-you-are-made-of-spacetime.html", which I suppose is as close to nothing as you can get.
 
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Well, technically everything is made of nothing, which happens to be something. I think most particles could be considered condensing energy propagating at <C. I don't think it's much more than a ripple in space though. It's something though.
 
nothing is made out of nothing...therefore nothing is made out of nothing...maybe...
 
Gear300 said:
nothing is made out of nothing...therefore nothing is made out of nothing...maybe...

Exactly what i was thinking!
 
astro2cosmos said:
Is there any thing which is made of NOTHING?
Since energy is conserved, so when anything is form it must be something at last time, then what about the formation of fundamental element QUARKS...

Actually this question is still under research, because we can yet see the effect, not the cause.

The problem is that we can't see everything, this actually is a big problem, that physics depends on the observer. In the microscopic dimensions, if you start by going deeper and deeper, you first find the crystal structure of a solid, go deeper you find the molecules or atoms, deeper would be nucleus, deeper... here is the problem. Standard model (the claimer to the existence of quarks) says it's quarks, and gives a loooooooooooooooot of elementary particles, I actually (personally) don't agree with standard model, because it's just like you're answering a question with some other question. I'm sure if you go deeper than quarks you're going to find some other particles, more and more and more, therefore we need some very fundamental field theory that agrees with Einstein's energy description, when he said that energy converts to mass.
The only reason we say Einstein is a genius is because he saw what can't be seen, and imagined something in a new dimensions that human will never be able, let's not say to see, but even to imagine.

I think the answer to your question is this:

"nothing" means no energy, "something" means there is energy. With this you start using energy to build strings (strings theory), then you build all elementary particles and fields however you wish, and you start from the only unit which is energy.

I hope I didn't mess up something :P

Good luck :)
 
Simply put, nothing is an impossible state.
 
  • #10
andreasj said:
Simply put, nothing is an impossible state.

I don't understand what you mean!
 
  • #11
andreasj said:
Well, technically everything is made of nothing, which happens to be something. I think most particles could be considered condensing energy propagating at <C. I don't think it's much more than a ripple in space though. It's something though.
No, energy is "something" so your statement "everything is made of nothing" is (technically) false.
 
  • #12
hey the distroyer!
can u tell me if the theory of everything can describe anything of the thing of nothing?
 
  • #13
TheDestroyer said:
I don't understand what you mean!

It's simple really. Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. There's always something.
 
  • #14
I have a little bottle at home with nothing inside. I labeled the bottle correspondingly: "Nothing". Before I kept there decayed µ-mesons (it was labeled "Decayed µ-mesons").
 
  • #15
This thread has deteriorated into silliness and random speculations. It is done.

Zz.
 

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