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Protons inside, electrons outside. But why not the other way around? (lemmy.world)
submitted 8 months ago by netvor@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world
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Every time I try to understand how forces which hold atoms and molecules together work, I find myself wanting to ask this question: why not the other way around? Could there be an atom which has electrons and neutrons inside, and protons outside?

It feels like a silly question, but is there something we know about the universe we live in that implies that this is not possible?

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[–] netvor@lemmy.world 5 points 8 months ago

Thing is, trying to do a complete swap, there's a point when the thought experiment kinda eats itself: you end up with a universe which is exactly the same, except the words "proton" and "neutron" are swapped.

The logic of it is fascinating in itself.