Six quarks, six leptons, gauge bosons, a Higgs, and absolutely no gravity.

The Standard Model of particle physics is the theory that describes the known elementary particles and three of nature’s four fundamental forces: electromagnetism, the strong force, and the weak force. It organizes matter into quarks and leptons, while force-carrying bosons govern their interactions. The Higgs field gives many particles mass through the Higgs mechanism, completing a remarkably successful framework tested with extraordinary precision. Yet the model is not the final word: it does not include gravity, dark matter, or several other cosmic mysteries. It is used primarily in particle physics, high-energy experiments, and cosmology.