# Why is the lightness of particles remarkable?

This isn't much of a question on its own. Could you elaborate on why you find the lightness of particles unexpected? Are you referring to some article or paper that claims it? Or more generally, what is the context that inspired this question? – David Z Sep 28 '12 at 0:41
I don't find the lightness of particles unexpected. That's my question - Why do people find it unexpected? I've added a link. – vtt Sep 28 '12 at 0:46
OK, that helps. It would make the question even better if you summarize or quote what the linked post says about why the lightness of particles is remarkable, so that someone wouldn't have to click on the link to understand why you're asking your question. – David Z Sep 28 '12 at 1:38

The problem you are referring to is what physicists call the heirarchy problem. In order to understand this you understand that in QFT the observed mass of a particle is a combination of its bare mass ($m_0$) and some other mass terms associated with the fields it couples with ($\delta_m$).
$$m = m_0 + \delta_m$$