Once a great dreamer I was of the Cosmos but over time I have found less
dream and more reality binding my thoughts.

If I understand correctly, one of the big prize questions in physics,
both quantum and astro, is the relationship between atoms (and other
subatomic particles) and gravity. I understand the conversation in this
thread about how when a black hole forms it doesn't suddenly take on a
new and increased amount of gravitational pull on it's surrounding. I
also understand the BB analogy in that if you take 100 BB's and it's
melted equivalent there is no change in it's mass yet if you take that
mass of 100 BB's and crush it into the size of 1 BB it's gravitational
effect at the surface of the BB will indeed be much stronger than if it
were just 100 BB's in a jar. Radius, mass, and gravity work together
but it's important to visualize the relationship as dependent upon where
your measurements are being taken.

Something I've pondered about concerning black holes in particular, is
the organization of the atoms inside. I flounder to produce the name of
the researcher who studied the shapes of solids 100's of years ago;
the one that concluded that some shapes are inherently natural. I
visualize atoms as BB's that are squashable. If you put BB's in a jar
you can see that they rest in a certain way naturally. In a black hole,
or even all black holes, are the atoms that exist inside organized in
such a way? Do atoms even exist inside as we know them or are they
completely unbound and crushed further into the various quarks that make
up protons and neutrons? Do electrons survive the transformation or are
they completely removed from the mass? Is a black hole susceptable to
ground -state fluctuations?

I ask the questions but expect no answer as they very well might not be
valid questions at all and just the musings of an idiot or just more dreams.