Originally Posted by NH2112
Quote
all matter is shredded, leaving only electrons and nuclei.



Isn’t that all that matter is in the first place?


Nah. All matter is bosons and fermions and the quarks that comprise them.

But what are quarks?

That's what string theory is for...

Here's a good page to read:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/part-nf.html