What is the current understanding of matter and its origins?

[Alex_Sanders]

I need some brief update of how scientists are making any progress in coming up with theories explaining what matter is and how matter was formed.

My latest memory on this one tells me everything is just a form of energy, there were singularities in the old universe, some kind of energetic balance was broke, thus came the stars, planets, and us.

Is my preliminary understanding right and not yet out of date?

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Does this help?

I have no doubt that in reality the future will be vastly more surprising than anything I can imagine. Now my own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.

 

[ThomasT]

I need some brief update of how scientists are making any progress in coming up with theories explaining what matter is and how matter was formed.

I think the jury's still out on this one.

My latest memory on this one tells me everything is just a form of energy ...

The basic definition of energy presupposes matter, so that might be a bit of a problem. But then, matter is rather ill-defined, so maybe it's not a problem.

... there were singularities in the old universe, some kind of energetic balance was broke, thus came the stars, planets, and us.

Is my preliminary understanding right and not yet out of date?

I think you've nailed it.

 

[Oldfart]

Nice quote, Jimmy! Makes me wonder what happens to a scientist who discovers something that is queerer than he can suppose -- does he go nuts, or what? If he manages to publish the findings, will everyone who can understand them go nuts, leaving only stupid survivors? Hmmm...