What has been discovered so far by scientists is that at first, the universe was an infinitely dense and incomprehensibly small fireball [1,2]. Then the Big Bang occurred to form the fabric of the universe in a process called ‘inflation’, which lasted for only one millionth of a second [3]. The universe quickly formed the basic forces in the sequence below 1-4 where 1 and 2 are within the nucleus and 3 is the force keeping the electrons in its place and 4 keeps the planets and stars in their place [4]:

• Strong nuclear force

• Weak nuclear force

• Electromagnetic forces

• Gravity

The strong nuclear force keeps the protons from repelling within the nuclei of the atoms or else for example helium which has two protons will spontaneously turn into hydrogen which has one proton [5].

The weak nuclear force happens when two protons collide, turning one proton into a neutron and in the process emitting a positron, neutrino and lots of energy. Fusion and fission reactions happen due to this. This means radioactivity occurs mainly due to the weak nuclear force. The neutrons can break down to a proton and electron and vice versa; beta minus (β-) decay is where a neutron decays into a proton and beta plus (β+) decay is when a proton decays into a neutron. A neutron is composed of two up quarks and one down quack. A proton is composed into two down quarks and one up quack [6].

Beyond the nucleus are the electrons moving around in orbitals and not in shells as previously assumed [7]. Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle indicates that we cannot pinpoint the location of an electron [8]. And Schrödinger's wave equation shows that the electrons are a particle that sometimes behaves as a wave or a wave that sometimes behaves as a particle [9]. The double-slit experiment shows that when there is a human observer, an electron beam behaves as a particle and when the human observer (which includes a camera) is absent, it behaves as a wave [10]. The location of an electron is just like pin-pointing a bee in a swamp of bees; they move randomly around but we can see the swamp moving. Therefore electrons are considered to move in a cloud

with exact orbitals determined by external forces [11]. The moving of electrons around the nucleus is similar to the dynamos, generators or motors [12]. Electricity generation and consumption follows the similar principle of electrons moving around the nucleus. 

Beyond the atoms, the planets and stars are kept in place by the gravitational force [13]. The last theoretical physics Einstein worked upon was to find a unifying force for the four forces of strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, electromagnet force and gravity [14]. He failed in this attempt because quantum mechanics was not well developed at that time. But he admitted there is a highly intelligent force guiding the whole universe. Einstein stated that the more he studied the universe the more he realizes how little he knew about it [15].

So in conclusion, 99.9999% of the atom and even within the protons and neutrons of the nucleus is empty [16]. A quark in a proton or neutron is relatively as small as those particles relative to the size of the atom [16,17]. And since the whole universe is made of atoms, the whole of the universe is 99.9999% empty space [17]. This can be taken to be similar to a dream where we create structures and people which disappear when we wake up. Similarly the universe is built up currently into a humongous structure which actually emanated from an infinitesimally small point. The current huge universe is actually empty space with repulsive and attractive forces. In other words it can be taken as an illusion of appearance.

Therefore for example, a human hand should be able to move through a solid wood or iron. The reason a hand cannot go through a solid substance is because the electrons of the hands repel with the electrons of the wood or iron. But the ability of a human body to go through a solid material was demonstrated in the Philadelphia experiment where after exposing a ship to super powerful magnetic fields, some navy soldiers were found having their hands or bodies stuck within the ship’s iron body [19-22].

The different colors we observe on earth and beyond are due to the absorption and emission of energies as electrons move from one energy level to the next or as electrons change orbitals [23].

After the initial Big Bang ‘inflation’ which lasted which lasted one millionth of a second [24], the universe started to expand but at a much slower pace. This can be imagined to an explosion happening in free space, there is nothing stopping the movement of particles or electromagnetic waves except the small interaction between these particles. When the energy of the first explosion is spent, the rest of the movement of the particles is not dependent on the initial force of the explosion which gives acceleration, so thenceforth the particles move without acceleration at a constant speed. 

After the first second, the universe was made up of the electromagnetic waves and particles like quarks, electrons, photons and neutrinos [25]. After three seconds, nucleosynthesis began to occur, forming protons and neutrons, this combined to form the nuclei of simple elements, predominantly hydrogen and helium. Even after 100,000 years, there was no matter, as we know today. Light, X-rays and radio waves dominated the universe [26].

Atoms were then formed by nuclei linking with free electrons. After 200 million years, galaxies and stars started to form out of pockets of gas, which condensed due to the force of gravity [27].

Scientists today, especially Stephen Hawking have calculated that the universe is continually expanding and contracting, which is Big Bang, Big Crunch, Big Bang, Big Crunch…, which happens over billions of years [28].

According to calculations, contraction will happen when the critical density is reached. This figure is 1.1 x 10-26 kg per cubic meter or six hydrogen atoms per cubic meter. Thus, the density of the universe decreases till a certain critical value after which it will contract. The ratio of actual density/critical density is equal to Omega. The universe expands when Omega is less than one. When Omega is greater than one, the universe collapses, in a Big Crunch [29].

Hydrogen and helium are the main composition of the luminous component (the stars), which is continuously increasing in density value. But there is also a dark component, which can be detected only by its gravitational influence on luminous matter [30].

Currently the number of atoms in the universe is close to the critical number of 6×1079, needed for it to start collapsing. The current universe has already “lived” 99.9907407407407% of its lifespan. So, there are only 400,000 more years before it collapses. But this is a huge span of time compared to a typical lifespan of a human being, so it is way into the future for any of us. So, there is not going to be an “end of the world” as many are predicting anytime soon [31].

Ripples caused by the shock waves of the Big Bang have been observed and measured [32,33]. Observations using today’s instruments show that the universe is flat. The reason for this can be understood from the following analogy: If three tiny ants are placed on a balloon AND the balloon is suddenly (before they can move) blown up, each ant will observe the other ant moving away from it. As the balloon gets to be very huge, each of the three ants will think they are on a flat surface. Current observatory instruments cannot detect the curvature of the spherical universe [34].

This paper has simplified and enumerated all the experimental findings, mathematical conclusions drawn and theories formulated by physicists over the last 200 years about atomic physics and the formation of the universe. The fundamental thesis of this paper is that since atoms are 99.999% empty and even protons and neutrons are 99.999% empty, the whole universe is therefore empty and only repulsive and attractive force interact to from the characteristics of the universe. 

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