Matter is Intelligently Controlled Energy

by Chris Banescu –
Physicists have discovered that matter, the physical stuff that gives atoms their mass and forms the building blocks of all material particles in the observable universe, is mostly (99%) controlled energy. All this matter, the stuff we can see, touch, use, observe, and measure, is actually energy continually operating at a sub-atomic level to transform energy into substance, to give atoms nearly all of their mass. In other words, approximately 99% of what we call physical matter is actually super-organized quantum-level energy that makes matter “real” and fashions all the material necessary for our universe to exist.

Ever since Albert Einstein uncovered the link between matter and energy and proved it with his famous equation E=mc², scientists have known about this important relationship between the two. For a refresher on physics, E=mc² shows that the energy content (E) of an object is equal to the mass of that object (m) multiplied by the speed of light (c) squared.

What scientists didn’t know at first but have since discovered is that atoms are not really “solid” at all. Their material presence is dictated by continually controlled energy that gives matter its substance and creates the material world we experience. What we observe as solid matter is fundamentally the manifestation of fluctuating quantum energy fields and virtual particles that constantly pop in and out of existence.

Thanks to Ernest Rutherford’s experiments from 1911 through 1919, we know that virtually all (99.9%) of the mass of an atom is concentrated in its nucleus. We also know that the nucleus is made up of a neutron and a proton. Physicists subsequently discovered that each proton and neuron is made up of three quarks held together by gluons which carry the strong nuclear force that binds quarks together (it’s actually more complicated than this, but sufficient for our purposes).

As a side note, the strong nuclear force is the strongest force known in the universe. It is approximately 100 times stronger than the electromagnetic force and 10^{^}38 stronger than gravity; that’s 100 trillion trillion trillion times stronger than gravity.

But a mystery remained unsolved for decades. Gluons are massless elementary particles. The combined masses of all the quarks that make up the nucleus of an atom only account for 1 percent of its mass. Where did the other 99% of the mass of the atomic nucleus come from?

By 2008 physicists discovered that this mass is created by “fluctuations in the quantum vacuum” which provide almost all of the mass of ordinary matter. These quantum fluctuations produce the strong nuclear force that binds quarks together. Using incredibly complex calculations, physicists confirmed that “the strong force is carried by a field of virtual particles called gluons, randomly popping into existence and disappearing again.” The energy generated by these quantum vacuum fluctuations were responsible for generating 99% of the total mass of protons and neutrons.

Something outside the observable universe is continually energizing and influencing reality, sustaining matter at a sub-atomic level, and providing substance to the material world. Now where have we heard that before?

Scriptures declare that God willed the universe into existence. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Through Christ, God’s Son, His Word, God created and upholds all creation. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1-3). “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).

The Apostle Paul bears witness to this truth also. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16-17). “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

Orthodox Christian theology reflects the same Scriptural truth. In the Orthodox teaching, God not only created the universe and all life, He is actively energizing and sustaining everything that exists. God’s power upholds reality and maintains its structure. He provides substance to all particles and the energy that powers the entire universe. He holds together every atom in our bodies and the 2 trillion galaxies estimated to exist in the known universe.

“The holy Word of the Father, then, almighty and all-perfect, uniting with the universe and having everywhere unfolded His own powers, and having illumined all, both things seen and things invisible, holds them together and binds them to Himself, having left nothing void of His own power, but on the contrary quickening and sustaining all things everywhere, each severally and all collectively,” rightly declared St. Athanasius the Great more than 1,600 years ago.

This truth is increasingly being confirmed by other scientific breakthroughs. Most notable among them, is the discovery that the visible universe represents only 5% of the real universe. The other 95% of the universe is made up of “dark matter” (27%) and “dark energy” (68%). Labeled as “dark” because both are invisible, but necessary to the superstructure of the universe. Without this invisible matter and energy the visible universe would not exist.

Materialist explanations that “blind forces” and “random processes” are responsible for the incredibly precise and amazingly consistent transformation of energy into physical matter and the existence of the universe, are ludicrous. Chaos, random energy, and mindless forces cannot create, control, or sustain anything. They also cannot create the physical laws that govern nature and the entire universe. It’s illogical. It’s unscientific. It’s impossible.

Only a supreme Intelligence, a infinitely powerful Mind, with unimaginable power, existing beyond space and time, would be able and capable to accomplish such miraculous and unbelievable feats. Ultimately it’s not something, but Someone, God Himself, who initiated and controls this process. He is the One who continually fashions uncreated energy into created energy and matter. He is the One Whose very Logos upholds all of material reality, from the quantum forces that hold atoms together, to the universe-sized superstructure that allows trillions of galaxies to exist. The firmament shows forth God’s handiwork, from the micro to the macro scale.

That’s the reason why mathematics and physics are necessary in order to explore, reverse-engineer, and explain everything around us. Only a human mind, using reason and logic, can employ mathematics and physics to better understand reality. And the end results of those scientific inquiries and experiments, all point to an infinite Intelligence and Power, God Himself, who designed, created, and continually sustains everything inside and around us.

The entire universe, all energy, all atoms, all life, all galaxies, the visible and invisible superstructure of the real universe, are Intelligently controlled and sustained by God. Nothing else makes sense, logically, mathematically, or scientifically.