A Tiny Hero: Is It Possible to Shrink to the Size of an Ant?

Would you like to go down to the size of an ant and up to the size of a skyscraper at any time like Ant-Man? In this article, I will discuss whether it is possible to change our sizes and if so, how we can do it.

What Does Science Fiction Say?

Let's first look at the explanation of how Ant-Man was made possible in the original Marvel script. A scientist named Hank Pym discovers a group of subatomic particles. He realizes that this rare group of particles can increase or decrease the size and mass of objects or living things. Thus, he formulates this particle discovery, which he calls Pym particles, into a special suit.,

The size-shifting capabilities of Pym particles are based on their ability to change the scale, mass, strength, and density of matter. The particles can do this by adding or shifting mass in the subatomic dimension. They also have the ability to maintain the power intensity of a living being while reducing it to the size of an ant and increasing it as the shrinking takes place. This means that when we shrink a person that much, there will be an increase in strength and endurance. Of course, since the particles work in a subatomic dimension, they can also direct the shrinking matter to the Quantum Realm, a subatomic space dimension. If used frequently, this process can turn a person into a sticky pile of protein. Therefore, the use of costumes is important... Of course, this cannot be the only problem. Even with a costume, it seems that the change in the distances between our atoms and the constant change in dimensions can cause many imbalances in human physiology. Still, we are in the fantasy dimension of the job right now. So let's not think too much for now, we'll think about it later. Let's move on.

The red Pym particle is used for shrinking, while the blue Pym particle is used for increasing size. While both give strength to the creature, the blue one also provides weight. Otherwise, our heroes would float into the sky like a helium balloon, as they would become smaller than the density of the air.

When it comes to a living organism, removing atoms would cause many practical problems. It would lead to the loss of physiologically functional elements. You don't want to lose your neurons while trying to reduce size, do you? I guess no one would want a hero without a brain.

Let us look at how size reduction is handled in another similar scenario. Isaac Asimov, in his work Fantastic Voyage, talks about shrinking objects by manipulating the size of atoms. An explanation for some possible problems is given in the form that a shrunken atom will be under stress proportional to the degree of shrinkage. So we can say that light, sound, and other stressors can change behavior around the shrunk object. Finally, we can add that this effect will be temporary and the atoms will quickly return to their original state after an hour.

In the film Downsizing, we see yet another downsizing scenario. In the film, it is explained that a large part of the population downsizes themselves to 13 cm. Thus, they consume fewer resources and produce less waste. However, in such a situation, excessive thinning of the voice may occur, and it is a separate question whether this voice will be at an intelligible frequency in communicating with people of larger sizes.

The methods mentioned in the films are, of course, purely theoretical. When it comes to the fictional scenario, either some laws of physics are ignored or imaginary particles can be created to fulfill these laws. This is the beauty of science fiction... So, if we return to real life, is it possible to shrink a living organism without any physiological problems?

Problems in Size Reduction

There are some obstacles we need to consider. If we know these obstacles first, we can determine how to remove them accordingly. Let's start by considering the simplest. Let's shrink by reducing the gaps between atoms.

As you know, most of the atoms are composed of gaps. If we can eliminate these gaps by bringing the atoms closer together, then we can compress organisms in the same way as we can compress a file on a computer in rar format. In theory. However, a big problem arises here. Even if we can somehow reduce a person to the size of an ant, since the weight of the person will not change, its density will increase so much that the internal pressure will reach horrible degrees. And living tissues will start to be damaged. In addition, if two atomic nuclei come much closer to each other than normal, an unstable and high-energy situation arises. From interatomic interactions to the instability of electrons, many balances will be disturbed. Of course, you can imagine that these will affect all the structures of a living organism. In short, it seems unlikely that we can change the distance between atoms for the sake of size reduction and survive.

What if we just cut out the excess and make room? I mean, remove atoms and reduce the gaps between the remaining ones? In this case, we have to eliminate some of the elements that make us up. Imagine removing atoms from the structure of DNA. Many problems would await us, from cell death to mutation.

Then we have to minimize everything. In other words, we must shrink together with our atoms so that we do not experience loss and we can maintain the ratio of the gaps between atoms.

Let's go top-down. It is known that the universe was formed from an area as small as a point with a big explosion and is expanding. After a while, it is said that it will stop expanding, start collapsing, and disappear at the small point where it was formed. Similarly, we know that very massive stars first expand, then begin to shrink towards the end of their lives, and finally collapse into a black hole that swallows up everything with the increasing horrendous amount of gravity. In other words, we can say that expansion and shrinking are naturally occurring phenomena. However... This example we are talking about is for stars many times more massive than our sun. The collapse of the universe is already in a completely different league. Nevertheless, the shrinkage of such huge masses makes us think how functional the idea that atoms are made of empty space could be in such cases.

Atoms are said to be 99,9999999999996 percent empty. But how exactly can they be so empty? The nucleus, which constitutes the bulk of the mass of the atom, occupies such a small space that compared to the overall size of the atom, the space outside the nucleus can be perceived as empty. But what determines the overall volume of the atom? Electrons. The size of an atom is determined by the quantum mechanical properties of electrons and the forces holding the atom together. We cannot think of electrons as objects. Electrons have neither a specific position nor momentum, as explained by quantum uncertainty. Their location and direction of movement are purely probabilistic. Therefore, their location is expressed as an electron cloud. The average distance from the nucleus to the outermost position where the electron is most likely to be located thus determines the size of the atom. In other words, quantum mechanical rules determine the size of the atom. When we try to compress an atom, we have to overcome the quantum mechanical principles of the atom.

The location of each particle in an atom has a characteristic of that atom. So changing this structure can change the behaviour and properties of the atom. In other words, even if we change the energy levels of the electrons and try to compress them, it may not be possible to preserve the original, and the density of the atom will still be affected.

String Theory?

Then the question comes to my mind whether we can minimize the particles that make up the atom. In other words, is there anything that can be done when we go down to the size of protons, neutrons, and electrons? When it comes down to these dimensions, I come across a theory that I like very much but still do not fully understand. String theory. I will try to convey as much as I understand, but let me emphasize that I am not a physicist. As far as I understand, no matter how logical the information I convey may seem to me, my explanations may make a physicist want to hit his head against the walls. For now, let's continue to drift in our own brainstorm.

When we talk about string theory, we are confronted with much smaller thread-like structures called strings, which also make up electrons and protons. The different modes of vibration of strings correspond to a particle with certain properties such as mass and charge. Just as different modes of vibration of a guitar string produce different musical notes, different vibrations of strings in string theory will produce different particles. In physics theories, the number of dimensions is fixed to three based on observation. However, when it comes to string theory, the existence of six new dimensions is predicted. Strings are so small that it is very difficult to observe them and they can be perceived as a void. This led theorists to develop the idea that there could be an extra dimension for the vibration of strings. It is thought that the geometrical shapes of these extra dimensions will affect the vibrations and thus play a role in determining quantities such as the masses and charges of particles.

In theory, we need to design such a pattern for the vibrations of these strings that we can change the masses, charges, and even the sizes of subatomic particles. As you can imagine, it is not yet possible to carry out research in string dimensions. It is thought that particle colliders can be used for this. If one day we find a way to discover such small dimensions, vibration patterns of strings, and extra-dimensional geometries, who knows, we may find a way to intervene. If it is possible to change the size and even the mass of atoms by manipulations directly under the atom, it may be possible to overcome all obstacles such as excessive increase in density, collapse, and physiological health problems. Maybe we, like Hank Pym, will find a subatomic particle that will change the string vibrations and we will name it after ourselves.

Is that enough?

Well, let's say we managed to do all of these things and shrunk to the desired size. Are all our problems solved? Unfortunately, no.

It is not only the parameters of our body that are affected by the change in size. Our interactions with our environment are in a certain balance. From the air we breathe to the food we digest, many elements are closely related to the surface area of our organs. In other words, we need to minimize the atoms of everything we are exposed to, such as the air we breathe, together with ourselves. In addition, the metabolism of animals small in size is very fast. It should be taken into account that even shrinking down to the size of a mouse can accelerate the metabolism excessively and the need for food can increase proportionally. Increased metabolism also means faster biological aging. In addition to these, even the sounds we perceive and the rays reaching our eyes may become unperceivable or unbearable in those sizes.

So we may need more than a simple suit for downsizing. A costume that protects our body... With its own oxygen provider or a filter that shrinks air molecules... With filters that bend the waves coming to the eyes and ears and make them audible and visible... Perhaps emitting special chemicals that can prevent the metabolism from over-accelerating... Even a special cap that will prevent our neurons from getting out of control and can detect possible mishaps and control the problem by sending appropriate magnetic waves... A very carefully designed costume.

If we can provide all these requirements one day, maybe we can develop a technology where we can shrink at any time and return to our original state at any time. We could have a quantum Christmas party in the subatomic dimension. Maybe we'll miss the setting like Ant-Man and find ourselves in the quantum realm. I don't know what might happen to us there, but I guess the door is open for those who want to try.

Of course, it is not possible to say whether it will be possible or not for now. Based on the data I have found, I can say that it is not so impossible in theory. What do you think? Do you think string theory can really pave the way for us? Or what other ways can help us overcome the obstacles we face at the point of size reduction? Would you want to try it if you could?