All of particle physics rests on a theory known as the Standard Model, which lays out the fundamental particles that exist in nature, as well as the forces that govern them. The Standard Model includes two main families of particles: fermions, which include all the constituents of matter, and bosons, which include all the known force-carrying particles. Fermions come in three generations of progressively greater mass.

Click below to learn more about each particle in the Standard Model.

For more on Standard Model of particle physics, read the "Inner Life of Quarks" in the November 2012 issue of Scientific American.

5 Comments

1. 1. Steve Rawlinson 12:05 AM 10/27/12

   I came to this web site as described in Scientific American Nov 2012 oage 43 expecting to see some sort of interactive version of the Standard Model with respect to preons. I found nothing. This is one more example of how crappy Scientific American has become over the past few years.
   
   After doing a little research on the subject of preons, I discovered that most of the concepts have pretty much been debunked over the years. Is this just another example of Scientific American behaving like Popular Science? Do they not vet their articles to ascertain whether they are reasonable?

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2. 2. billritter in reply to Steve Rawlinson 04:32 PM 11/10/12

   I concur. Now Nov. 10 and still nothing (promised on the site to be there by Oct 31)

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3. 3. fermion1943 10:27 PM 11/12/12

   dissapointed no "interactive version" of particle physics
   available at ScientificAmerican.com/nov/2012/preons
   
   Issue I purchased indicated this was available online!
   
   Pete Parnell, Eureka CA

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4. 4. jtdwyer 09:07 PM 11/15/12

   Still not here...

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5. 5. GlennIC 10:07 AM 12/2/12

   SA: "Please check back on Wednesday, October 31 for the interactive Standard Model of Particle Physics"
   
   It is now December. Where is it?

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