: This group includes the electron and the elusive, "ghostly" neutrino.
: This is the current "rulebook" of the universe, describing 12 matter particles (fermions) and four force carriers (bosons). Foundations of nuclear and particle physics
Particle physics is the study of the elementary building blocks of matter and radiation. At this scale, we move beyond atoms to the truly fundamental particles that have no substructure. : This group includes the electron and the
: The Standard Model explains three of the four known forces: electromagnetism, the strong force (which binds nuclei), and the weak force (responsible for radioactive decay). Gravity remains the outlier that physicists are still working to integrate. 2. The Heart of the Matter: Nuclear Physics At this scale, we move beyond atoms to
Nuclear physics focuses on the atomic nucleus—the dense core of protons and neutrons at the center of every atom. Fundamental Nuclear and Particle Physics Section