Why do atoms mainly consist of 'empty space'?

In this communication, the vastly different sizes of atoms (similar to 10(- 10) m = 1 Angstrom) and nuclei (similar to 10(-15) m = 1 fm) find an explan ation in the mass hierarchy of the electron, pion and nucleon, and in the r elative magnitude of the fundamental coupling constants of the electromagne tic interactions (represented by the fine structure constant alpha similar to1/137) and of the strong interactions (represented by the pion-nucleon co upling constant g(nNN) approximate to 13). None of those hierarchies can, h owever, be explained by the present Standard Model of elementary particle p hysics.