The dynamics of the quark-lepton level in the structure of matter

The history, current challenges, and future development of the standard model in particle physics are reviewed. At the present stage, quarks and leptons are the fundamental constituents of the structure of matter in the universe. Quantum chromodynamics is the fundamental theory of the strong interaction between quarks and gluons, and has two important features：asymptotic freedom and quark confinement. The standard model in particle physics comprises quantum chromodynamics and electro-weak unification theory, and has been very successful. However, it is also challenged by the problems of symmetry breaking and quark confinement. This means that the standard model has to be extended and new breakthroughs are necessary. It is expected that the puzzles of the structure of matter and the early universe can be solved by the interdisciplinary development of particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology in the near future. Eventually, new physics beyond the standard model will be explored.