Quantum Vacuum Fluctuations: Empty space isn't truly empty; it seethes with virtual particles popping in and out of existence due to the uncertainty principle. These fluctuations have measurable effects, like the Casimir force (attraction between plates) and Lamb shift (tiny energy changes in atoms). They imply the vacuum has energy—“zero-point energy.” This background activity underpins quantum field theory. Yet, the infinite energy predicted clashes with cosmology’s observed dark energy. Why is the vacuum energy so small? How do virtual particles become real (Hawking radiation)? These fluctuations challenge the idea of true emptiness, suggesting space is a dynamic quantum foam, a profound mystery at the universe’s foundation.
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