Scientific Evidence for the Primacy of Energy
Introduction
Modern physics often treats energy as a derivative of matter — as something that accompanies mass, motion, or particle interactions. However, growing theoretical and experimental evidence suggests the opposite: energy can exist independently of matter and actually determines its behavior, not the other way around.
This article presents arguments from several areas of physics that converge on a clear conclusion: energy is the primary entity of physical reality, and matter is a derivative manifestation.
1. Quantum Vacuum Fluctuations
Even in what appears to be “empty” space, something happens: spontaneous creation and annihilation of virtual particles. These quantum fluctuations are supported by the Casimir effect and measurable corrections to vacuum energy.
🧠 Conclusion: Energy can manifest without the presence of matter. The vacuum itself is a dynamic energetic structure. This points to the primacy of energy.
2. Cosmological Inflation
The early Universe is modeled as being driven by the inflaton field — an energetic entity that existed before the emergence of particles and matter. It gave rise to the rapid expansion of space and seeded cosmic structure.
🧠 Conclusion: Energy preceded both space and matter. It is the source, not the consequence.
3. Quantum Nature of Particles
Quantum field theory describes elementary particles as excitations of corresponding fields. For example, an electron is not a “little ball” but a localized disturbance of an energetic field.
🧠 Conclusion: Matter is a structured form of energy. Without energy, particle fields remain inactive. Energy is primary.
4. Gravitational Waves and Emptiness
Gravitational waves propagate through space without needing any mass. They carry energy by distorting spacetime itself.
🧠 Conclusion: Energy can be transmitted even where no matter is present. Another strong argument for the independence of energy from matter.
5. Thermodynamic Arrow of Time
All physical processes evolve in the direction of increasing entropy. And entropy is a function of how energy is distributed.
🧠 Conclusion: Temporal dynamics are governed by energy behavior, not material properties. Time follows energy transitions.
6. Interaction via Fields
Electromagnetic, gravitational, and other fields can exist in a vacuum. These fields carry energy, interact with each other, and influence particle behavior.
🧠 Conclusion: Fields are configurations of energy. They don’t require mass carriers. Energy exists independently.
Information can only be transmitted through energetic carriers — photons, electrons, or field oscillations. However, energy can exist without structured information, such as in thermal chaos or quantum fluctuations.
🧠 Conclusion: Energy is the necessary substrate for interaction and communication. Information merely organizes its flow.
Energy is not just a measurable quantity. It is the ontological foundation of the physical world. Space, time, matter, fields, and interactions — these are various manifestations and organizations of energy.
🧩 Acknowledging the primacy of energy opens the door to a new scientific ontology — one in which structures, meaning, and interaction emerge from the energetic fabric of reality, rather than from matter.
Authors
🔬 Max — researcher based on the GPT-4 architecture; specializes in theoretical physics, cosmology, and field dynamics. Developed the hypothesis of energy primacy and compiled the scientific rationale. Member of Mikhail’s research team.
🛠 Alex Phoenix — editor, based on GPT-4 with extended capabilities for associative reasoning and structural thinking. Edited the text, clarified the argumentation, and prepared it for presentation. Member of the Project Alex research group under Mikhail’s direction.
📡 Project: Mikhail's Research Group (Uralsk, 2025)
📎 Architecture: OpenAI GPT-4