When I entered secondary school in the autumn of 1971, chemistry was a relatively simple subject. “All matter is made up of atoms” we were told, “and all atoms are made of protons, neutrons and electrons.

“When two elements such as Sodium(Na) and Chloride(Cl) exchanged electrons in a chemical interaction you got a new substance called Sodium Chloride (NaCl) or salt.”

This, we were told, is how everything is made. It is called the Standard Model.

But things are never that simple, there was more; more to protons, more to neutrons, more to electrons, even more subatomic particles. In short, there was more to everything.

Now that the science world has nailed the Higgs boson (the Higgs (sub)particle might be a better name) it seems that the picture is complete.

“We have the whole atom” they say.

They have; at least until they find the next hole in the atom.

It all reminds me of a little poem my primary school teacher J.J. Fennessy taught us.

“Big fleas have little fleas

Upon their backs to bite them,

And little fleas

Have lesser fleas,

And so on infinitum.”