The Equation That Explains (Nearly) Everything!

This is like when the teacher says: "OK, we've already covered all this. So it should be easy".

The unpacked version of the Standard Model Lagrangian (density) shown at 14:00 in the video was the version I transcribed and posted in 1999 from the appendices in the book Diagrammatica by Nobel Laureate Martinus Veltman while procrastinating writing my dissertation. I'm glad folks are still getting good use out of it over 20 years out!

I really like that fact that this episode and some of the other recent episodes are totally over my head. I studied math and engineering in college and most of the physics channels out there dumb down the science so much that they don't really say anything at all.

keep challenging the audience to become educated and keep up. keep setting the bar high. this content might be above many peoples head but I REALLY like that it challenges me to keep learning.

This channel is super well produced and I'm a huge fan. keep pushing us to understand at higher levels

I just want to say how unbelievably grateful I am for this channel. I've waited for something exactly like this for decades.

When I started watching PBS SpaceTime, I was just learning about quantum mechanics and relativity. 5 years and a chemistry degree later, I finally feel close to the frontier. It's been a pleasure taking this journey with you.

A grad student who’s studying particle physics worst nightmare is encountering the standard model Lagrangian. A few of my colleagues got their PhD in high energy theory, so if you ever want to scare them off that’s something you show them lol.

I understood literally nothing and was still fascinated. This is my favorite YouTube channel. ❤

This video encapsulates why I didn’t go into physics. I’m absolutely passionate about the concepts of how and why things work, and the fact that humans know this equation is fascinating and I fully appreciate the importance of the mathematics.

But honestly, my eyes glaze over when I see that equation. I tried so hard to follow but I kept wanting to be brought back to physically what this indicates is actually going on.

This is one of, perhaps the best physics related channel on YouTube at the moment.

Great that you kept the equation on sight at all times. Even better where exactly on that equation the explanation was at

Oh dear Matt… Look at him. Explaining everything with such confidence and conviction as if we understand even a single word of it. 😢😢😢

What's funny about the search for the GUT is we often look for an elegant equation like e=mc^2 even if it's far more likely to be even more of a hog than the standard model.

I always thought... How hard can it be?? Then I saw that equation and I was like... Never mind...

I actually do have a mug with the compact version of this equation, bought at the gift shop of the LHC, so it does fit on a mug ;).
Also, i have a masters in physics (admittedly, applied physics with an optics specialization) and until now I had no clue what the equation on my mug meant. But seeing the full version I'm happy I never had to work with that massive beast of an equation!

As a PhD student in robotics, your videos have provided such excellent insights into some of the math I use. Furthermore, your excellent presentation of the topics inspires me to push my own work further. Thank you for such phenomenal content!

I really appreciated this video even though I did not understand a lot of it, if I were being honest. I walk away with an appreciation of the power in math.

I'd love to hear more about those particles that can't be measured and infinities that make no sense that are eliminated by adding h.c.

This is what makes PBS Space Time special: putting up multiple episodes so that then they can go to deeper topics that are otherwise not communicated to us nonexperts, but are still wicked awesome!

The instant you said "subatomic", i noped out :D

I'll want to support PBS Space Time by purchasing a coffee cup with the entire Lagrangian equation on it.