How 'Bout Them Quarks

Learning...

Just yesterday I learned about quarks at a memorial honoring the passing of a great man. A scientist spoke of his friendship with the deceased and threw out the word quark during his delivery of the eulogy. 

What’s that? I wondered briefly, but refocused my attention on the speaker. When I returned home, the first thing I did was google the word, and this is what I discovered: Quarks are subatomic particles that make up protons and neutrons. They come in different flavors—the word physicists use to separate the different kinds. I still know precious little about these particles with the exception the universe may end in 10 billion years because of them. AND, of course, wherever you have a quark, you have an antiquark.

So, the point isn't that I now know the existence of quarks. Nor do I have any plans to apply this knowledge at any depth. The point is—I learned something new. Now that I know about them, I can always use this as an ice-breaker ... How 'bout them quarks! Go quarks!