The universe behaves differently depending on which way you spin
In short: At the most fundamental level, nature treats left-handed and right-handed particles with a strange bias. While some forces are indifferent to your orientation, others—like the weak nuclear force—only interact with one side. This asymmetry is a core mystery of how matter behaves.
The Standard Model organizes our universe into two main categories: matter particles (fermions) and force-carrying particles (bosons). Matter is composed of quarks and leptons. Quarks are the building blocks of protons and neutrons, carrying unique properties like 'color charge' and fractional electrical charges—specifically +2/3 for up quarks and -1/3 for down quarks. Leptons include electrons and neutrinos, which lack color charge but still play vital roles in atomic structure.
One of the most profound nuances in this model is chirality, or handedness. Particles possess a property called spin; depending on its direction relative to motion, they are classified as left-handed or right-handed. The weak nuclear force is uniquely selective: it only interacts with left-handed quarks and leptons. For reasons currently unknown to physicists, right-handed quarks cannot transform into other types via the weak force, remaining locked in their original state.
In contrast, other fundamental forces are more inclusive. The strong force, mediated by eight different gluons, binds three quarks of different colors together to form colorless protons and neutrons without discriminating between handedness. Similarly, the electromagnetic force (mediated by photons) and the neutral weak force (mediated by Z bosons) interact with both left- and right-handed particles.
The model is rounded out by the Higgs boson, which provides mass to all massive particles except neutrinos. While the total count of known particles sits at 58—comprising 45 matter particles across three generations, eight gluons, three weak bosons, one photon, and one Higgs—the full picture expands to 103 when including antimatter.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: All Fundamental Forces and Particles Visually Explained
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/science-all-fundamental-forces-and-particles-visually-explained.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Particle physics · More in Science · Latest · A–Z · All topics
