Chapter 2 The Invisible World 1 Elementary Particles
To understand what makes us "human",
we must explore the invisible world.
The basic method we use to study the existence of space is to look for commonalities within that existence. From physics textbooks, we know that the commonality of tangible matter is referred to as molecules. Further divided, the commonality of all molecules is atoms. Delving deeper, atoms contain nuclei and electrons. The nucleus can be further divided into protons and neutrons. Beyond that, we encounter quarks, leptons, and bosons. Going even further, we find baryons, mesons, gluons, intermediate bosons, antiparticles, neutrinos, and more. To date, over a hundred types have been discovered, representing the frontier of high-energy physics. What lies beyond that is unimaginable, and even the names have not been determined.
When we can no longer subdivide matter, physics refers to the smallest or most fundamental units that constitute matter as Elementary Particles (see Figure 2.1). Scientists believe that elementary particles form the basis of all objects in the material world. Your body, the book you are reading, and everything around you, both visible and invisible, are made up of elementary particles. From the perspective of quantum mechanics, all elementary particles possess spin, a property of quantum states (unrelated to the spatial motion direction of the particle). The time and space distortion caused by the spin of elementary particles can generate a Torsion Field. Most humans have a weak perception of torsion fields, but due to their ability to traverse matter and the physical world, they possess a magical force. Detailed descriptions will be provided in Chapter 7.
Figure 2.1: Atom, Nucleus, and Elementary Particles
Photons are a type of elementary particle, also known as light quanta. Photons are the carriers of electromagnetic radiation and the mediators of electromagnetic interactions. They were proposed by Einstein in 1905 and officially named by American physical chemist Gilbert N. Lewis in 1926. Unlike most elementary particles, photons have zero rest mass and travel at the speed of light in a vacuum (300,000 kilometers per second), possessing energy, momentum, and mass. Although photons are extremely small, they are numerous. A 10-watt light bulb emits approximately 2.86×1019 photons per second, which is about 28.6 billion billion photons.
The foundation of the Special Theory of Relativity is the principle of the constancy of the speed of light and the principle of relativity. It tells us that time and space are not absolute but vary with the state of motion of the observer. Specifically, when an object moves at a speed close to the speed of light, the time it experiences slows down, known as time dilation. Simultaneously, its length in the direction of motion shortens, known as length contraction. These effects are not noticeable in daily life because our speeds are much slower than the speed of light. However, in extreme situations, they have significant impacts. For example, in particle accelerators, when high-energy particles reach speeds close to the speed of light, the time they experience is much slower than in our reality.
The special theory of relativity also reveals the relationship between mass and energy conversion, as expressed by Einstein's famous equation: E= mc2. This equation indicates that mass and energy can be converted into each other at a very high conversion rate. For instance, during nuclear reactions, when atomic nuclei undergo fission or fusion, a tremendous amount of energy is released along with a reduction in mass, demonstrating the power of nuclear energy. Similarly, during the annihilation of matter and antimatter, mass is completely converted into energy, which can help explain phenomena such as Black Holes.
Since the speed of light (c) is constant and can be considered a constant, the mass-energy equation also tells us that all objects with mass possess energy, and vice versa. Some scientists have even measured the weight of the soul to be about 20 grams (this is a topic for later chapter). Similarly, everyday objects like a sheet of paper or a stone may have minimal perceptible energy, yet their energy content is real. When subjected to external forces, these objects may exhibit higher energy levels (though invisible to the naked eye).
Consider, for instance, burning paper currency purchased from a temple. As the currency burns, photons in the flames move at the speed of light (whether the atoms in the flames approach the speed of light remains subject to further study). During this process, the rapid disappearance of mass is transformed into energy. Where does this energy go? Why do departed loved ones seem to receive it when we burn paper money or offer food over fire? Why do fruits and cooked food offered in traditional rituals spoil quickly? Could lighting incense serve as the simplest means to connect with higher-dimensional beings?
Some stones inherently possess verifiable energy, such as crystals or jade. These are often used as ritual tools or symbols of power in religious ceremonies and royal governance around the world. Many modern people also enjoy wearing jade jewelry. So why don't people choose ordinary stones? Perhaps it is because these special jades have unique atomic structures that not only contain energy but also emit or connect with various magnetic fields of the universe.
