Explain the observed values of the Standard Model’s fundamental constants

Determine whether a deeper theoretical foundation exists that explains why the approximately twenty fundamental parameters of the Standard Model—specifically the particle masses, gauge couplings, Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) mixing angles, and the CP‑violating phase—take the specific numerical values observed experimentally, rather than being free, empirically fixed inputs.

Background

The Standard Model successfully describes known particles and interactions but depends on roughly twenty experimentally determined parameters, which limits its predictive power. Historically, various attempts to find relations among these constants have not produced convincing evidence, leaving their values seemingly independent and unexplained.

This paper uses symbolic regression and genetic programming to search for simple analytic relations among dimensionless forms of these constants, motivated by the possibility that hidden structure might point to a deeper law. The explicit open question highlights the broader theoretical challenge: accounting for why these constants have their specific values and whether a foundational theory could determine them.

References

One of the most important open questions in the SM is why these constants have the specific values we observe, and whether a deeper theoretical foundation might explain them.

— Discovering the underlying analytic structure within Standard Model constants using artificial intelligence  (2507.00225 - Chekanov et al., 30 Jun 2025) in Section 1 (Introduction)

To understand why minimizing magic reproduces both $\sin2\theta_w$ and $\alpha_s$, we conjecture that the parameters of fundamental interactions among color singlets reflect a principle of quantum computational efficiency, with the physical universe emerging from a quantum simulation subject to constrained resources.

— Quantum Magic and the Strong Coupling Constant  (2610.11121 - Liu et al., 8 Oct 2026) in Abstract; Section Discussion

Which SM parameters can the principle explain? The minimal SM with massless neutrinos contains nineteen independent parameters.

— Quantum Magic and the Strong Coupling Constant  (2610.11121 - Liu et al., 8 Oct 2026) in Section Discussion, bullet point “Which SM parameters can the principle explain?”