Here you will understand more about particle physics like quarks, leptons, neutrinos, the Standard Model (our best theory of the fundamental building blocks of nature) and much more.

Along the way, you will learn that “S is for supernova. Supernovae are exploding stars. They emit much of their energy in invisible neutrinos, but they still shine brightly enough to temporarily eclipse entire galaxies in the sky. Certain types of supernovae explode with a predictable level of brightness. Scientists have used these types of supernovae to figure out how quickly the universe is expanding.”

“And L is for leptons. The leptons are a family of subatomic particles. The best-known lepton is the electron. Other leptons include heavier versions of the electron called muon and tau particles, and a group of three almost massless particles called neutrinos. Unlike some other particles, leptons don’t combine with one another; they like their personal space.”

The book has been developed by Symmetry magazine, which is jointly run by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, both in the US.

From the Symmetry website: “Use it as an illustrated guide to basic particle- and astrophysics terms, or read it to your infant at bedtime, if you don’t mind their first word being quark.”

I love love love the animated pictures. I really wish this book had come into my hands when I was a budding scientist!