Ben Tolman
The ancient Greeks speculated that it might be air, fire or water. A century ago, physicists felt sure it was the atom. Today, we believe that the deepest layer of reality is populated by a diverse cast of elementary particles, all governed by quantum theory. From this invisible, infinitesimal realm, everything we see and experience emerges. It is a world full of wonder, yet it can be mystifying in its weirdness. Or at least it can often feel that way.
What you’ll find below is a concise, clear-eyed guide to the known particles and forces – from electrons, quarks,…
