The wellsprings of space

"The Wellsprings of Space" by Albert Teichner is a science fiction story that centers around a group of scientists investigating the possibility of matter creation in space to make long-distance travel easier. Old Huddleston, an experienced scientist, is visited by three younger researchers—Lowen, Crane, and Fitzhugh—who introduce him to their hypothesis about continuous matter creation that could solve the electron leakage problem in spacecraft. Aboard the spaceship "New Cosmos," they test their theory and discover they can replenish their resources with newly created matter, however at the terrible cost of their own life spans. The story explores the themes of scientific discovery and the relationship between knowledge and existence, ultimately leading the crew to a dark realization about time and their own mortality, resulting in them becoming strangely preoccupied with collecting old bottles, a symbol of the time they've lost.