The Competition Between Atoms Explain the Entire Universe

The search for a unified explanation of nature has driven physics for generations. Scientists have long sought a framework capable of connecting gravity with the other known forces of nature, yet that goal remains unresolved. In a new study, an alternative perspective is proposed that challenges some of the deepest assumptions in modern physics. Instead of viewing matter as collections of passive objects governed by external forces, the work explores whether the universe may be better understood as a network of constantly interacting energetic systems.

Julian Hart, an Independent Researcher based in Marlow, United Kingdom, developed this process-oriented framework and argues that concepts from process philosophy and evolutionary game theory may offer a different route toward unification. The work is published in the peer-reviewed journal Philosophies. Rather than searching for increasingly complex mathematical structures involving extra dimensions or undiscovered particles, Hart examines whether familiar physical phenomena can emerge from interactions among dynamic systems. The study presents a broad conceptual model intended to connect physical, biological, and social phenomena within a single metaphysical framework.

A central idea in his research is that atoms and particles should not be regarded as inert building blocks. Modern physics already shows that atoms possess internal structure and continuously exchange energy with their surroundings. Hart extends this observation by suggesting that particles can be viewed as energetic systems that constantly interact with their environment, akin to biological systems. Using evolutionary game theory, which is commonly applied to explain cooperation and competition in ecological populations, the study proposes that similar interaction patterns may occur at the atomic scale. In this interpretation, phenomena such as entropy, molecular bonding, and even gravity emerge from the collective behavior of enormous numbers of interacting particles rather than from fundamental forces acting independently.

The proposal reexamines entropy, one of the most important concepts in thermodynamics. Conventional interpretations often describe entropy as a tendency toward disorder and energy dispersal. Hart argues that the observed effects associated with entropy may instead arise from competition among energetic systems. In this view, particles spread out and distribute energy because they are effectively competing for opportunities to interact with their surroundings. The mathematical framework developed by Ludwig Boltzmann remains useful and accurate, but the underlying process responsible for the observed behavior may be different from what has traditionally been assumed.

Hart’s research also offers a new interpretation of molecular bonding and gravity. Molecular bonds are described as consequences of ongoing exchanges of energy between atoms rather than static forces. Gravity, meanwhile, is proposed to emerge through large-scale cooperative interactions among particles. Because cooperation occurs across vast populations rather than between isolated pairs of particles, gravity naturally appears weaker and acts over much greater distances than the forces responsible for holding atoms and molecules together. This approach attempts to explain why gravity inherently differs so dramatically from the strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions.

Hart emphasizes the scope of the idea as “The outcome does not lead to a singular equation, such as the Standard Model of Particle physics.” He stresses that the framework is not presented as a final solution to every scientific question, but rather as a possible avenue for exploring unity across multiple scientific disciplines.

The implications extend beyond physics. If particles are viewed as dynamic systems that respond to their surroundings, then similar principles could potentially describe phenomena across physical, biological, and social sciences. Hart suggests that the same interaction patterns that explain cooperation among organisms and societies may also help explain how matter organizes itself into increasingly complex structures. Such a perspective could provide common conceptual ground across fields that are often studied separately.

The study concludes with perhaps its most provocative suggestion. As Hart states, “It may be that the only way to unify all the forces of nature into a theory of everything is to recognise that there are no underlying fundamental forces after all.” Rather than treating forces as primary ingredients of reality, the framework proposes that they may be emergent consequences of interactions occurring throughout the universe. Whether this perspective ultimately proves useful will require further investigation, including computer simulations and agent-based models capable of testing the predictions of the theory.

While highly speculative, the work offers a fresh way of thinking about one of science’s most enduring challenges. By combining process philosophy, systems thinking, and evolutionary game theory, it invites researchers to reconsider assumptions that have shaped physics for more than a century. Even if the proposal does not become a new foundation for physics, it highlights the value of exploring unconventional approaches when confronting questions that have resisted solution for decades.

Journal Reference

Hart, J. “Thinking the Unthinkable: An Alternative Route to a Unified Theory.” Philosophies, 2025; 10(5): 110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050110

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