A sliver of time

The atomic model results from chopping matter up until you can't go any further. The bits you are left with are called atoms. In a nutshell, that's the gist. They are the smallest piece you can get that still retains the same properties as the original substance. (If you go further - split the atom - you produce fragments that have different properties to the original substnce, so these bits are defined as sub-atomic particles.)

Now, there's an obvious problem here. The above only works if you start out with a pure element. Therefore, gold gets reduced to atoms of gold, and sulphur (or sulfur) reduces to individual atoms too (even if they are arranged in rings).

But what about breaking down ionic crystals (e.g. NaCl)? What do you do with molecular and organic substances? How do you deal with cells or live organisms? Good luck with your atom having the same properties as the macroscopic object.

If you insist that the smallest-sized bit retains the same properties as the original, you may end up with something quite large. It may even need to be as large as the original object, in fact. So how to cut that up?

Enter the Sliver Model.  

This model addresses that issue. Just as the atomic model does, the sliver model breaks the world down as far as possible. You end up with the smallest-sized piece you can conceive, but you use a different blade. 

Think, if you will, in terms of the cross-section of a 3-D object. That's roughly the approach that I wish to suggest. But I'd like to wield it in a different dimension. You see, using the sliver model you slice up the world in terms of time. That's the knife we'll wield to carve our infinitesimal universe.