the fine line between existing and the world of physics.

Understanding the physical world is like digging an endless well. Every time we take the shovel to the ground, we realize that there is more and more to know. However, one would be lying if says that what we know is very little. We know that we are all made of normal matter, just as all other living beings and stars or planets. Microscopically, matter is made of atoms, which are made of electrons, protons and neutrons. The two last are built from quarks which are tied together by gluons. On the other hand, we also know how stars are born and die, how planets gravitate around stars and that the Universe was born on a big bang and is now expanding. While this seems a lot, in fact, we know that normal matter adds up to only 5% of the mass the Universe!

The remaining 95% (dark energy and dark matter) are still to be understood. Even within the 5% there are lots of unsolved questions we continue to look at. Why are quarks and gluons confined to remain attached? Does our Universe have other extra-dimensions? If it has, what is the mechanism responsible for them to not be visible to us? How can we reconcile quantum theory and general relativity in a complete and consistent quantum gravity theory? Why do we not observe any magnetic monopoles? Why there is so much more matter than antimatter in the observable Universe? What is the correct description of turbulence? Can we build superconductors at room temperature and atmospheric pressure? What is the appropriate theoretical description of those? And many, many more.

The comforting tap on our shoulders is that humanity has only been present on 0,002% of the Universe's age. However, absurd is thinking that we know a lot about the universe, that we made the most important discoveries when there is only 5% of its mass discovered. There is still a long path to conquer regarding physics’ investigation. How do you feel when do you read this? Hopeful? Nauseated? Well, weather your state of mind, remember that it is just physics. We are way more complex than that.

By the physicist João Miguel