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Physics beyond the Standard Model
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<p>Physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) refers to the theoretical developments needed to explain the deficiencies of the <a href="/facts/Standard_Model/LhVGf9ow">Standard Model</a>, such as the inability to explain the fundamental <a href="/facts/Dimensionless_physical_constant/79vy9fTj">dimensionless physical constants</a> of the standard model, the <a href="/facts/Strong_CP_problem/swnszaLf">strong CP problem</a>, <a href="/facts/Neutrino_oscillation/c1cc5noc">neutrino oscillations</a>, <a href="/facts/Baryon_asymmetry/kfUEYG4F">matter–antimatter asymmetry</a>, and the nature of <a href="/facts/Dark_matter/y5HgX55N">dark matter</a> and <a href="/facts/Dark_energy/6bWIYewA">dark energy</a>. Another problem lies within the <a href="/facts/Quantum_field_theory/VoewsNJV">mathematical framework</a> of the Standard Model itself: the Standard Model is inconsistent with that of <a href="/facts/General_relativity/jVsoIg8X">general relativity</a>, and one or both theories break down under certain conditions, such as <a href="/facts/Gravitational_singularity/BptlItux">spacetime singularities</a> like the <a href="/facts/Big_Bang/I5T1vTnv">Big Bang</a> and <a href="/facts/Black_hole/1r2lmkcF">black hole</a> <a href="/facts/Event_horizon/KXH2ptnI">event horizons</a>. </p><p>Theories that lie beyond the Standard Model include various extensions of the standard model through <a href="/facts/Supersymmetry/hkWGrMet">supersymmetry</a>, such as the <a href="/facts/Minimal_Supersymmetric_Standard_Model/kQwWa2hW">Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model</a> (MSSM) and <a href="/facts/Next-to-Minimal_Supersymmetric_Standard_Model/M6HjkX1Q">Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model</a> (NMSSM), and entirely novel explanations, such as <a href="/facts/String_theory/HUJFIPYH">string theory</a>, <a href="/facts/M-theory/5KJgrr9P">M-theory</a>, and <a href="/facts/Extra_dimensions/HmH0gUjw">extra dimensions</a>. As these theories tend to reproduce the entirety of current phenomena, the question of which theory is the right one, or at least the "best step" towards a <a href="/facts/Theory_of_Everything/rpossh4t">Theory of Everything</a>, can only be settled via experiments, and is one of the most active areas of research in both <a href="/facts/Theoretical_physics/Cs2Y12rQ">theoretical</a> and <a href="/facts/Experimental_physics/2Ile53Iq">experimental physics</a>. </p>