Abstract Contemporary physics provides powerful mathematical descriptions of the universe yet leaves unresolved foundational questions about the nature of space, energy, time, information, and the role of observers. General Relativity, quantum field theory, and standard cosmology each rely on distinct assumptions about space and energy, but none offer a unified account of the physical substrate from which structure and interaction emerge. This work presents the Equilibria Field framework, an ontological reinterpretation of space as a continuous physical substrate whose preferred state is maximal equilibrium. Within this framework, physical structure arises as localised deviation from equilibrium, giving rise to interaction, persistence, information accumulation, and regulatory processes. Rather than proposing new physical laws or empirical tests, the framework aims to clarify how existing theories in gravitation, quantum field theory, and cosmology may be understood as effective descriptions of structured behaviour within an equilibrium-seeking substrate. Core physical concepts including force, mass, electromagnetism, the speed of light, time, and information are reinterpreted as emergent expressions of organised deviation rather than fundamental primitives. The framework further extends to the emergence of life and consciousness, treating them as thermodynamically favoured regimes of localised organisation capable of modelling and responding to environmental constraints. By situating physics, biology, and cognition within a continuous explanatory structure, the Equilibria Field provides a coherent interpretive context for understanding structure, regulation, and observation within a unified ontological setting. Synthesised Content This paper synthesises previous developments in the Equilibria Field programme into four integrative parts: Part I: The Ontological Gap. Identifies the unresolved separation of space and energy in modern theory and the limitations of treating space as mere geometry. Part II: The Equilibria Field. Introduces the substrate and reframes cosmological structures, interpreting black holes as regulatory thresholds ("repurification" mechanisms) rather than singular endpoints. Part III: Emergent Physics. Reinterprets fundamental quantities—force, mass, time, and the speed of light—as structural limits and responses within the field. Part IV: Structural Inevitability. Demonstrates how life and consciousness arise as necessary strategies for managing information saturation (Ic) and navigating complexity limits within the substrate.
gregory novis (Tue,) studied this question.