[throwaway481048]

Is it not possible there is a (potentially massive) hole in our understanding of physics or perhaps even a whole different set of rules which we have yet to perceive and explore?

I ask because along with the recent onset of quantum mechanics, proposed unified field theories, and the revived discussion of UFO phenomena in the US (specifically regarding US armed forces’ interactions with “them”), many state that the operation of these UFOs is simply not possible under our defined laws of physics.

Thus, is it wise for us to assume a rule which has held true in our relatively simple world would not change at a different scales of physics?

I’d think it best to be open minded as we explore these new frontiers, but do know that we are often driven to further understanding by our previous understanding.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a professional working within physics or any directly related field.

[tinco]

Yes absolutely possible and also precisely the reason we are looking at these particles. The way science works is that we call these "assumptions" laws because we have never seen them broken and if we do it's likely some other assumption is wrong or our measurements are incorrect. But physics is always based on experiments, and if an experiment would show a violation of the law of conservation, and that experiment is repeatable and no one can find a flaw in it, then the law is changed.

And this is not some idle theory based in idealism, it actually happened in a super real way multiple times the most famous one being when we dropped the Newtonian "laws" for special relativity and quantum physics. No one liked it, no one was happy with it, but physics is about what happens in reality, and reality is what dictates what the laws are.

You probably get some downvotes for the UFO thing, but it doesn't really matter. Scientists don't need UFO's to question their assumptions, but they can be fine inspiration regardless.