J---Yes the word space in its fundamental meaning is a cubic area that has nothing in it. No energy of any kind.
D---the phrase 'in its fundamental meaning' seems to take us out of the realm of physics and into philosophy or metaphysics .. someone like Kant makes interesting reading on this level.

Language by itself is a good area of study. My understanding of English words may not be perfect, but whenever I have heard anyone mention the word space I have always thought that it meant an area where something could be placed, stored, or have enough area so that something could be inserted into it, in other words something that can be measured in cubic dimensions. If it was possible to take everything out of a cubic area, that is, all mass and all forms of energy, then that area still would be considered as space. Or am I missing something here?

D---But we're talking here about physical models which firstly say: no, space is never utterly empty, and not only because of cosmic radiation, but also for 2 other reasons:).

I agree that outer space can not be utterly empty, simply because the photon energy would not propagate through such an area. Stars would not be visible if light did not travel through space, if light is there then it can not be empty.

- because of a postulated 'vacuum energy' called 'zero point energy' which arises from Heisenberg's uncertainty principle The truth however is this is still largely speculative - here's a good exposition by John Baez
- the energy density of empty space according to General Relativity. In fact it's the Cosmological Constant which determines this energy .. Wikipedia puts it
"The term can be positive, negative, or zero. It is the energy density of empty space: it can be thought of as the "cost" of having space. Because the cosmological constant has negative pressure, according to general relativity a positive cosmological constant--which means empty space has positive energy--causes the expansion of empty space to accelerate (see dark energy for details)".

From my perspective some parts of these explanations seem confusing, for instance, "energy density of empty space" has no meaning, because if the space is empty it can not contain anything that can move, therefore it can not contain energy, either positive or negative. Energy is described as the capacity of a physical system to do work. In order for "work" to be done, mass and its motion must be present.
Does not the words "negative pressure" have the same connotation as the word suction?

See my answer to RobVG at: http://www.habitablezone.com/offtopic/messages/405733.html

The formula E=(u/k)c, contains the origin of the 'zero point energy.' The formula calculation is: u=cm2. I call that 'potential force' others may call it "vacuum energy", and it originates from the 'emptiness' of space or the lack of mass density in a cubic area.

At this point it's time for me to say, these answers come out of my own googling of the subject, for instance wikipedia. Really, the only advantage I have over you at this stage is, my experience helps me to know which keywords are the best for the search. My point is that you should start doing this yourself if you are truly interested. I can still comment occasionally but I can't keep doing all the basic work, all the time.

Your communications have been extremely helpful in focusing my thoughts.
This type of exchange of thoughts and ideas are what I have hoped would occur on these boards.

Same as SDAI-Tech1 and Michael Mozina, I also have formulated a different way of looking at nature, If these observations and thoughts are the way nature works, then they will be proven to be true when enough evidence is gathered, and if they are not true, then the evidence will prove that too.

Using the present (scientific) dogma to refute the ideas will not advance science, but intelligent discussion and presentation of evidence will.
If the ideas are false then intelligent discussion and presentation of evidence will make it possible for others to say; that road has been traveled and it did not produce any results.
If the ideas are true then intelligent discussion and presentation of evidence will make it possible for others to say; that road has been traveled and it produced good results.

try some of these links, including wikipedia.

Thank you for the links, they are very valuable. Understanding how others understand the structure of the universe gives me the knowledge of the words that are used in explaining such ideas..

Johannes