How Do We Feel

[Aminab]

Ok so I just recently learned that nothing ever touches because our atoms repel then how do we feel.  

[Swordmaster Dragon]

Shikimari2

Ok so I just recently learned that nothing ever touches because our atoms repel then how do we feel.

Without getting too into details (which would no doubt be wrong, if I'm talking about any subject):

The components of atoms rarely touch each other because of electron repulsion, but that repulsion still creates a force. When we "touch" something - put our atoms close to something else - we feel the pressure of the electrons pushing back. The nerves in our skin can interpret that pressure and send a signal about it to the brain.

That's my random stab at it, I'm sure someone here's done neuroscience or microbiology.  

[Layra-chan]

Dragon has it basically right. Even without direct contact, there is still a force felt between atoms, and it is that force that we feel.

If you want to think of it in terms of funny particle stuff, there are actual things touching, in that every matter particle (protons, electrons, etc) is constantly sending off force particles (photons, weak bosons, etc) and these particles do touch other matter particles. So in a sense things are touching, it's just that atoms don't touch each other directly, but instead just send and touch these force particles.  

[Smartteaser192]

Note that atoms even have Energy.

E=MC^2 Energy is fundamental in this world. That force is what we call Energy.  

[Sioga]

Wow! I didn't know that! Well, now I do. That is very interesting.  

[Mecill]

Smartteaser192

E=MC^2 Energy is fundamental in this world. That force is what we call Energy.

Yes, energy is a fundamental concept but energy is not a force. I think of it as a quantity that describes the ability of something to do work. Work is defined as a force acting over a distance. MC^2 is the energy of a particle at rest.  

[SuchSweetSadism]

I always found that cool.

Also... if I remember correctly, if they do touch they meld together. Imagine touching someones hand, and melding right into it?