[potas]

Not an expert, but as far as I understand it, both, i.e. atoms are ("physical") manifestations of (probabilistic) quantum fluctuations.

If I'm wrong, it would be great if someone could ELI5.

[criddell]

I hope somebody weighs in because ever since I read that matter is just quantum field excitations I've lost all intuition about what reality is. Everything seems to be nothing.

[ckocagil]

Learn about the quantum eraser experiments and your jaw will drop.

https://youtu.be/8ORLN_KwAgs

[criddell]

Oh wow. It's weirder than I thought.

[ramijames]

I'm going to lean towards everything being nothing, with everything together being a giant illusion.

But, well, I'm having one of those days. :(

[procgen]

This scene from The Sopranos addresses this idea beautifully: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFDq985HvPk

"Everything is everything."