Why Is Everything Made Of Atoms?

 

The Atomic Hypothesis: Exploring the Universe at an Atomic Level

If all scientific knowledge were to be destroyed and only one sentence could be passed on to future generations, the most informative statement would be that all things are made of atoms. This atomic hypothesis holds the key to understanding the fundamental building blocks of our universe.

A Journey into the Atomic Realm

Embarking on an epic journey, a brave crew of atomonauts sets out to explore the atomic world. Unlike the Apollo astronauts who journeyed to the moon, these travelers are venturing into the hydrogen atom. Their mission is to locate the lone electron that orbits the proton at the center of the atom.

However, the electron's location is uncertain, as modern quantum physics tells us that we can only determine its most likely position. The electron's possible paths create a cloud of uncertainty around the nucleus, making it impossible for our atomonauts to land on their destination.

The Universe's Lego Bricks

Atoms are the universe's lego bricks, forming everything from vast galaxies to the human body. In fact, the number of atoms in our bodies alone exceeds the total number of stars in the observable universe. Each atom contains complex systems waiting to be explored.

It is fascinating to think that at the beginning of time, there were no atoms in the entire cosmos. The existence of the first atom and the reason why everything is made of atoms remain intriguing mysteries.

Offsetting Carbon Footprint with Wren

While contemplating the vastness of the atomic world, it is important to address pressing issues such as climate change. Wren, a website dedicated to carbon offsetting, offers a solution. By calculating your carbon footprint and funding carbon reduction projects, you can make a positive impact on the environment.

George Gamow's Perilous Journey

In 1932, physicist George Gamow and his wife embarked on a dangerous journey to escape the Soviet regime. Facing bureaucratic obstacles in obtaining a passport, Gamow met his wife while visiting the passport office. They married and planned their escape, eventually finding refuge in Belgium and later the United States.

Pioneering Work in Understanding the Universe

Gamow's work on the internal mechanics of stars led him to explore the origin of matter in the early universe after the Big Bang. This work, coupled with the concept of the expanding universe proposed by Edwin Hubble, revolutionized our understanding of the history of the universe.

The Early Universe and the Dominance of Electromagnetic Radiation

Until this point, cosmologists believed that the early universe was dominated by matter. However, Ralph Alpher, a student of Gamow, proposed in his doctoral dissertation that the early universe was actually dominated by electromagnetic radiation. This radiation, which encompasses a wide range of frequencies, includes gamma rays, X-rays, microwaves, and radio waves. Light and matter were trapped together in the nascent universe, with the universe dense enough for sound waves to travel through.

• Sound waves of low frequency, known as baryon acoustic oscillations, can still be detected today.

• Recombination, a significant event predicted by Alpher and Gamow, allowed the first light to come streaming out into the early universe.

The Captivity of Light and the Formation of Atoms

Light, being a form of energy, can transform into matter. After the Big Bang, some of the universe's energy converted into particles of matter, including electrons. However, it took hundreds of thousands of years for these particles to coalesce into the first atom. Protons, which are required to form a hydrogen atom, are made up of up quarks and down quarks.

• The strong nuclear force, which is significantly stronger than electromagnetism, keeps the positively charged up quarks together inside a proton.

• Gluons, particles that carry the strong nuclear force, play a crucial role in binding the valence quarks together in a proton.

• Protons also consist of sea quarks, which are virtual particles, and gluons make up 99 percent of a proton's mass.

While there is still much to learn about the intricacies of protons, experiments like the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider are helping physicists delve deeper into their composition.