Leptons: The Family of Electrons and Neutrinos

Leptons are a family of fundamental particles that do not feel the strong nuclear force.
There are six leptons: the electron, muon, tau, and their three neutrino partners.
The electron is the most familiar lepton, orbiting the nucleus in every atom.
Muons and taus are heavier cousins of the electron, but they quickly decay.
Neutrinos are nearly massless, neutral leptons that rarely interact with matter.
Trillions of neutrinos pass through your body every second without you noticing.
Leptons carry whole-number electric charges (like –1 for the electron) or none at all (neutrinos).
Neutrinos come in three “flavors” and can oscillate, or change identity, as they travel.
Leptons interact through the weak nuclear force and electromagnetism (except neutrinos).
They are essential for processes like radioactive decay, fusion in stars, and the chemistry of life.