/sci/ - Science & Math

Do the second and third generation fermions actually contribute anything to the processes necessary for life or are they just kinda there? If they suddenly disappeared without warning would we be in trouble? (assuming this doesn't break all of physics or some shit)

Do the second and third generation fermions actually contribute anything to the processes necessary for life or are they just kinda there? If they suddenly disappeared without warning would we be in trouble? (assuming this doesn't break all of physics or some shit)

Bit confused about the Higgs mechanism.
Popular science, and some legit looking sources I've looked into say it's responsible for all mass, including that of ordinary matter. But other legit looking sources say it's only responsible for a small percentage, and that only the W and Z bosons draw 100% of their mass from it.
Which is it? If it's the latter, then where does the rest of mass come from?

Bit confused about the Higgs mechanism.
Popular science, and some legit looking sources I've looked into say it's responsible for all mass, including that of ordinary matter. But other legit looking sources say it's only responsible for a small percentage, and that only the W and Z bosons draw 100% of their mass from it.
Which is it? If it's the latter, then where does the rest of mass come from?