Murray’s 60sec science of the day. – AtomsSo despite having to explain to my students that Atoms were “totes cray-cray small” there are 118 different types of atoms that we currently know about (with the ones between 95-118 being synthetic). There are an estimated 10^82 atoms in the observable universe and on average there are 7 x 10^27 atoms in a human body. About 2/3 is hydrogen, 1/4 is oxygen, and about 1/10 is carbon. The other 1% approx is predominantly nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur followed by trace amounts of nearly every other naturally occurring elements including gold and uranium. But here’s the kicker… about 99% of each atom is actually empty space. Which means we are 99% empty space. These atoms (like every atom in the universe) are held together by quantum forces – held close enough together to form solid matter but never actually touching (as there are opposing forces keeping atoms apart). So when you feel like you’re actually touching something, in fact, you’re feeling the pressure of the atomic forces in the surface of the object pushing back against the forces of the atoms in your finger which pushes on the forces of the atoms making up your nerves etc…So what! I hear people say.Well, it does mean you’re not actually sitting on your chair but hovering ever so slightly above it (so we can feel a little less guilty about sitting down all day)… AND since no atoms can actually touch each other… technically speaking you can never get ‘out’ in a game of tip.