The substance of space

[Bree Fletcher]

What if the emptiness of space is merely subatomic particles?
Free-floating quarks and gluons that have not become part of an atom, yet. That could be the key to Star Trek transporter technology. Maybe the nothingness is free floating micro-atomic particles? An unknown set of particles that make up quarks and gluons and such.

The lowest energy state for those things seems to be in arrangements that form full protons, or neutrons, or whatever else. If they were free-floating in space, I'd imagine that they'd eventually start combining in little subatomic fusion reactions (for wont of a better phrase) that would probably create a noticeable, if small, effect.

At any rate, if they were free-floating in space, they could just as logically be doing the same in the "empty" space between atoms in atmosphere, water, human bodies, etc. In which they have not been found.

[Rodri]

It has been found that light is made up of both waves and particles. Those particles are small and insignificant in number but wherever there is a visible light, there should be some of these particles. The only place I know of in the universe where there is an absence of light is inside a black hole and that is not due to an absence of matter but a result of highly compressed matter creating a gravitational effect so large that even light cannot escape it's pull.

Then again, the Universe is very big and I know only a very little about it.

[Balaam]

i know nothing about "Dark Matter"

this is dark matter

[Eutopeus]

Perhaps neutrino's make up some of this area called space. I believe I'll leave that up to the more scientific minds to work on.

As for fish breathing in water. They can do that because they are not human.: )

I remember something about Displacement creating bouyancy. If enough air could be displaced would we float? Don't know. :?

I do know that i'm the center of the universe and all things revolve around me. Am I special for that? I think so. :!

A whole bunch of things to consider here. There seems to be an enormous amount and variety of energy waves. Micro,X,gamma,beta,alpha,light,radio,sound..... Do they occupy space as they travel through it? :?

I'm not helping solve this Question much yet I am as close as the scientists that play with particle accelerators and those that monitor a tank of water that is 3 miles or so below ground.(random number that is close cause you know the story "if I tell you".)

Let's not forget that playing with Flames is fun until someone gets hurt.

[DeSalvionjr]

much of it may likely be void... but stray gases likely also fill would be "void space" area... but I think that there are many occurrences where no (physical) matter is pressent.

[Bree Fletcher]

I remember something about Displacement creating bouyancy. If enough air could be displaced would we float? Don't know. :?

I know. It's called a hot air balloon.

Micro,X,gamma,beta,alpha,light,radio,sound..... Do they occupy space as they travel through it? :?

Some of those are photons, and, insofar as they exist as particles, occupy small amounts of space. As far as beta and alpha, if I'm understanding you right, you're referring to the radiation, and that's just atoms, or parts of them. Can't occupy that space any more than other atoms. Sound waves aren't even physical "things;" they only exist as disturbances in molecules. (For all effective purposes, they can't even propagate through space.)

[Hehe]

Firstly, I LOVE you guys! No-one ever knows what I'm talking about when I use words like that!

Secondly, to my knowledge, scientists have a theory that space isn't just made of nothing, but "dark matter". I'm not very up to date on this though, so I will likely say something wrong.

I think this is a molecule in itself, one completely different to any discovered. Nothing more to say at this moment...

[Rodri]

Nobody knows much about dark matter. They haven't even proved that it exists yet. It's theoretical at this time because our scientists say there is not enough matter in the universe to explain all the background radiation, so they came up with dark matter.

[Hehe]

......scientists have a theory......

See above...

[Gamble]

apparently there is a huge "web" of dark matter that holds galexys and stuff together, theres also dark energy thats expanding the universe and driving everthing apart. what if time is the thing that occupys the big voids?