Because of a widespread misunderstanding on the definition of the term "nothing" in this context, it is difficult for us to understand this concept. Usually, when we think of "nothing," we picture the interior of a shoe box. When we lift the lid and peer inside, nothing is there. Then, inside that box, something seems to arise miraculously out of nowhere.
When discussing the universe's beginnings, the term "nothing" refers to a situation in which there is no positive nor negative energy, meaning that there are no atoms of anything and there is also no heat or cold. However, there is still vitality in this specific emptiness (quantum energy). It is not a physical thing. It is possible for it to exist in physical form, but because every positive energy is exactly balanced by every negative energy, it cannot. Because there are no atoms to cause time to move and have meaning, time has no meaning. Because this condition only occurred before the creation of the universe, there is no term in common English that can adequately express it. Therefore, we use the next best descriptor, "nothing." (The term "neutral state" could be a preferable one.) (Unqualified Entrophy?)
There are several ideas explaining why this condition abruptly changed fourteen billion years ago to create our universe. It may have been random quantum fluctuations, according to some physicists.
Even at this point this might sound far fetched, but physicists claim to have detected and even created these fluctuations.
It's possible that these fluctuations have always been present, but it wasn't until they coincidentally aligned that a powerful enough force emerged to produce a minute imbalance between positive and negative energy. This cascade reaction then grew and grew until eventually there was enough positive energy to take on a physical form, and the early universe appeared as a dense ball of energy (hydrogen plasma) that initially expanded, then eventually contracted. We refer to the event as "The Big Bang." It goes beyond mere theory. The motion of galaxies and background cosmic radiation are examples of empirical evidence that it did happen.
The Big Bang's newly formed atoms would ultimately combine to form the two basic elements, hydrogen and helium. These two elements then condensed to form stars, which in turn produced denser atoms through processes like stellar death. Everything in the cosmos, from the galaxies to you and me, was eventually created by the many sorts of atoms combining in numerous wondrous ways.
So as you can see, everything really did come from nothing.
….but, a number of people have asked, where did the quantum energy come from?
Science hasn't found a solution for that one yet.
Steven Hawking once said:
If we do discover a theory of everything… it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason — for then we would truly know the mind of God.
One explanation is that the quantum universe has no origin; it has existed and will continue to exist indefinitely, representing a real understanding of infinite. Given that everything we encounter in life has a start and an end, the idea of infinity has always been challenging to understand. That there is a deity and that God created the quantum universe is still another possibility. When everything is said and done, it's conceivable that we won't be able to find any more scientific evidence and will just be left with our views.
Thank you,
Eddie