Why Does Matter Have Weight? Consciousness, Interaction, and the Illusion of Solidity: Reinterpreting Mass as an Observer-Dependent Emergent Phenomenon
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) March 11, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18953680 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that mass and solidity are not intrinsic properties of matter but emergent, observer-dependent phenomena arising from electromagnetic interactions interpreted through conscious awareness, and proposes that perceived mass is the subjective signature of quantum decoherence within the authors' "Matter-to-Information Conversion (MIC)" framework. The authors suggest this view opens theoretical possibilities for manipulating weight and physical resistance through consciousness. |
Abstract
This paper challenges the fundamental assumption that mass and solidity are intrinsic properties of matter. Given that 99.9999999% of an atom is empty space, we propose that "weight" and "solidity" are emergent phenomena arising from electromagnetic interactions interpreted through conscious awareness. Building on the "Matter-to-Information Conversion (MIC)" framework, we argue that perceived mass is the subjective signature of quantum decoherence—the moment information collapses into a classical state. By recognizing that materiality is an observer-dependent illusion, we open the theoretical possibility of manipulating physical resistance and "weight" through consciousness, offering profound implications for regenerative medicine, material science, and our understanding of physical reality. Observer-Dependent Mass, Illusion of Solidity, Quantum Decoherence, Matter-Information Equivalence, Integrated Information Theory (IIT), Perceived Materiality, MIC, Inside-Out Universe