The invisible building blocks that construct every atom in existence

Science · Published 28 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: To understand how matter behaves, we must look past the visible world to its smallest components. This video explores the fundamental particles—quarks, electrons, photons, and neutrinos—that form the foundation of our universe.

Paul Andersen breaks down the subatomic reality where all matter is composed of fundamental particles. By studying the specific properties of these entities, scientists can decode the behavior of everything we see around us.

The exploration covers four key types of particles: quarks, electrons, photons, and neutrinos. Mastering their characteristics provides the blueprint for understanding physical matter at its most basic level.

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

• The fundamental building blocks of matter are not actually fundamental
• The invisible building blocks that construct everything you see and feel
• The 17 fundamental building blocks of our physical universe
• The invisible architecture governing every atom in the universe
• Are quarks actually the smallest building blocks of our universe?
• The graviton is a hypothetical particle that might finally unite gravity and quantum mechanics.
• Why do scientists disagree on how long a free neutron actually lives?
• What if every particle of matter has a hidden twin?
• Why giving out subatomic particles is physically impossible
• Why is gravity so incredibly weak compared to the other fundamental forces of nature?
• How do particles interact across empty space without ever touching one another?
• Why the universe has substance instead of just moving at light speed

More in Particle physics · More in Science · Latest · A–Z · All topics