Are quarks actually the smallest building blocks of our universe?

Space · Published 31 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While the Standard Model identifies quarks and leptons as fundamental, physicists are looking deeper. This episode from Fermilab explores whether these particles are truly elementary or merely components of even smaller structures.

Fermilab scientist Dr. Don Lincoln examines the possibility that our current understanding of subatomic physics is incomplete. While the Standard Model serves as the primary framework for describing the cosmos, this exploration investigates 'preons'—hypothetical entities that would exist beneath the level of quarks and leptons.

The video provides context on how particle physics seeks to uncover the most basic forces governing matter, energy, space, and time. By questioning the finality of known particles, it highlights the ongoing search for a more fundamental explanation of the universe's composition.

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