1960s–1970sReputable sourceWell documented
The Standard Model
On the timeline · around 1960s–1970s ·
What happened
Through decades of experiments in giant particle accelerators, physicists discovered that all matter is built from a small set of fundamental particles — quarks and leptons — interacting through forces carried by other particles. This 'Standard Model' of particle physics tied it all together into one of the most tested theories ever devised.
Why it matters
The Standard Model describes the basic building blocks of the universe and three of its four fundamental forces with extraordinary precision — the culmination of humanity's long quest to understand what everything is made of.
Sources
- CERN. The Standard Model · Reputable source