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Nature 445, 156-157 (11 January 2007) | doi:10.1038/445156a; Published online 10 January 2007

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Particle physics: Hard-core revelations

Frank Wilczek1

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Our description of how the atomic nucleus holds together has up to now been entirely empirical. Arduous calculations starting from the theory of the strong nuclear force provide a new way into matter's hard core.

Our quest to understand the force that holds atomic nuclei together has turned out to be a glorious adventure. Along the way we have found quarks, the coloured gluons that mediate the strong nuclear force, and a wonderful theory — quantum chromodynamics, or QCD.

  1. Frank Wilczek is in the Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
    Email: wilczek@mit.edu

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