Physical reality is the sum total of physical phenomena, laws and entities that ultimately constitute our current understanding of the nature of physical objects and processes within our universe. It encompasses both the observable and unobservable phenomena, and is thus both an empirical and a theoretical construct. Physical reality does not consist of mental or mental-like entities; it is defined strictly in terms of an objective existence of physical entities, including matter, energy, space and time. Challenges remain in our understanding of physical reality, but advances in fields such as particle physics, relativity, quantum mechanics and cosmology offer promising tools to explore and understand the physical reality of our universe.

See also: physical body, perception, awareness, life force, bodily experience