The Standard Model of Particle Physics Explained Simply

The Standard Model is the blueprint describing all known fundamental particles and their interactions.
It classifies matter particles into quarks (which build protons and neutrons) and leptons (like electrons and neutrinos).
Particles interact through force carriers called bosons, including photons, gluons, W and Z bosons.
The Higgs boson gives particles mass by interacting with the invisible Higgs field.
Quarks come in six “flavors”: up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom.
Leptons include the electron family, with its heavier cousins—the muon and tau.
The strong force, carried by gluons, binds quarks inside protons and neutrons.
The weak force explains radioactive decay and powers nuclear reactions in stars.
Despite its success, the Standard Model does not explain gravity or dark matter.
It’s one of the most tested and accurate theories in science, yet still incomplete.