About 500 B.C., early Greeks suggested that all in nature was made of identical tiny elements. They named these elements "atoms," which mean "indivisible." Atoms were minutely small, and all things and beings were the result of their assemblage.

The intuitive Greek thinkers had no laboratories to probe the infinitely small. They had reached their conclusion through mere philosophical deduction. Their theory of Atomism was so remote from the way we commonly experience the world, that it took twenty four centuries to be fully accepted.

Through the years, the Greek atom underwent major conceptual surgery. The most serious occurred when it was discovered that its own name was not deserved. This so-called  "indivisible" atom was found to be made of electrons revolving, at a great distance, around a nucleus composed of protons and neutrons. The atom, once assumed to be the smallest of all things, had become a giant in relation to some of its parts. Thus, begun the investigation of subatomic particles.

For scientists used to the predictability of the macrocosm, the subatomic world was puzzling. It had an inexplicable dual nature: as particles, it formed tangible substances; as waves, it spread energy into space. In addition, whereas ordinary matter could easily be measured, elementary matter was elusive. Researchers had to deal with probability instead of certainty, an uncomfortable situation for objective science. A new theory was elaborated. It was named "the Quantum Theory," after the quanta, the energy packets that atoms captured or emitted.

Modern quantum physicists have engaged into a complex journey toward absolute smallness. On their way, they have discovered many minute crumbs: electrons, protons, neutrons, positrons, photons, hadrons, leptons, mesons, pions, gluons and more. Yet, objective science has its limits.  As they approach the true essence of matter, researchers have realized that the instruments they are using—in particular their own brain— are meddling with their findings.

Fortunately, just like it occurred to early Greeks and others after them, intuition and deduction suffice to unveil the ultimate building block of the universe: the Eternon.