Seeing an actual atom is fantastic of course. But understanding how atoms came into existence cannot be detected by any instruments. That would be akin to trying to figure out how babies are made only through investigating babies -- that's not the right way to figure that out of course (we need some adult guidance to figure that one out).
Everything in our universe is subjected to mechanism/mechanics. Figuring out how atoms were produced, one must understand the mechanical process that took place.
Naturally, this is a complicated process, particularly because the prior state of the universe does not provide us any details except for the outcomes we observe. We know for a fact that whatever existed prior did indeed produce the results; that is what we have to content with.
Two mechanical processes are relatively simple to understand.
1/ An omelet requires the presence of an egg. It means that when we have a result, we automatically have a source for that result as well that was kind of distinct from the result. Yet most importantly is that the 'egg' had to get broken first before any scrambling of the egg could produce an omelet.
Conclusion: The prior state of whatever it was ended up breaking an important part of itself. Yet equally important is that the 'egg' got broken by... the 'egg'.
2/ A toy that broke did not receive anything added nor did parts evaporate into thin air. All is still present, but nevertheless broken. Most importantly, the special trick of the toy is now gone for good.
Conclusion: The prior state of whatever it was lost (at least) one specific function now gone for good.
From these two mechanisms that had to be in place for the results to come about, we can see that the prior state was indeed capable of 'shooting its own foot' and that it could produce a result that can be considered to be less than what existed prior, while at the same time it can be considered more than what existed prior because it was distinctly different from what existed before. Meanwhile, no energy was lost nor first occurring.
Some 13.8 billion years ago, a transformation of energy took place.
Viewing this from a mechanical perspective further, we can know that 100% of what existed prior did not end up becoming matter. Had everything that existed become the result, then the result would have lasted a few seconds at best and returned to that original state.
Again, we see a confirmation that a fundamental breakage occurred, and therefore that only parts of what existed prior ended up becoming matter.
On close examination of the subatomic reality, we see something vital: a balance exists between the positive charge of the proton and the negative charge of the electron. The material universe as a whole is neutral in outcome; just not the subatomic reality itself. This is an astonishingly important aspect that few seem to recognize as such. Within the results, we find a fully balance between two opposite charges. Amazing.
From this, we can state that the protons arrived first (found in the nuclei), and that the electrons are the (immediate) reactions (found around the nuclei).
From this we can also know that the protons got damaged in the process (and suggested is that quarks are the original energy in damaged packaging though unable to maintain themselves unless grouped) and that the electrons are not-damaged energy at all, yet they got pulled into the proton environment to neutralize the charge.
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The Big Whisper theory (similar yet distinct from the Big Bang theory) explains how this took place.
The Big Bang theory does not have a storyline how the prior state ended.
'The Missing Big Bang Egg'
