I think it’s kinda interesting that there’s a whole universal force that kinda goes uncommented upon in popular physics. I also don’t know anything about the strong nuclear force, but I heard someone say once that it’s actually just electromagnetism on a small scale? If there was, like, a good documentary that centers the history and experiments that lead researchers to conclude the existence of these things, that would be helpful. Being able to situate research in historical context really goes a long way to getting my head around a concept.
strong nuclear force - binds together the fundamental particles that make up neutrons and protons. the strength of this force causes neutrons and protons to stick together in atomic nuclei, creating atoms. this is the force we manipulate to cause nuclear fission and fusion, by breaking it or by overcoming electric repulsion to such a degree that protons get close enough together for it to activate. it has an extremely close range and strong nuclear bonds are typically only created due to the extremely high pressures in the centers of stars. without those pressures, it’s impossible to overcome electric repulsion of protons.
weak nuclear force - it’s actually electromagnetism wearing a different dress. or rather, they’re two different manifestations of the electroweak force. this force causes some fundamental particles to go from carrying no electric charge to some charge or vice versa. it’s the force that causes radioactivity. it’s remarkably weak and short-ranged (though still much stronger than gravity). weirdly, it only affects “left-handed” particles. don’t ask me what that means, I have no clue.