Elementary particle physics reflects the human quest to understand the basic building blocks of nature and the rules that govern the physical world. This quest has led not only to critical scientific ...

The particles that are in an atom: protons, neutrons and electrons The particles that are in protons and neutrons: quarks The four fundamental forces: gravity, electromagnetism, the strong force and ...

In the literal sense, nothing is simpler than an elementary particle: By definition, a particle is considered to be elementary only if there is no evidence that it is made up of smaller constituents.

In particle physics, data long outlives the detectors that generate it. A decade ago the 4,100-metric-ton Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) reached the end of its life and was shut down, stripped of ...

Physics has demonstrated that the everyday phenomena we experience are governed by universal principles applying at time and distance scales far beyond normal human experience. Physics has ...

Every few years, scientists take a step back to take a broader look at their field and determine what questions are most pressing—and what tools they will need to answer those questions. This year the ...

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2026 — AIP and the American Physical Society are honored to award Charles Thorn with the 2026 Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics. Thorn is being recognized for ...

Physicists just discovered a brand-new particle that appears to be an exotic cousin to the protons and neutrons that make up ...

Extremely massive fundamental particles could exist, but they would seriously mess with our understanding of quantum mechanics. Fundamental particles are objects that are so small, they have no deeper ...

Do we exist because of a single, tiny particle? This video explores how one fundamental particle plays a critical role in shaping matter, forces, and the structure of the universe itself. By breaking ...

The Committee on Elementary-Particle Physics was convened by the National Research Council's Board on Physics and Astronomy to assess the field of elementary-particle physics as part of the survey ...