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.
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