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Are there fundamental big questions in physics that most scientists encounter no matter what they're working on, or are most questions details of smaller subtopics? What are the great unknowns of our day?

Sorry in advance if my question is too general. I told my kid that there are some things science still doesn't have theories for, and she asked "like what" and I said I wasn't sure, so I'm asking here. So much science has been done since I was in school that I don't know what all has changed. I think what she's after is some real mysteries to wonder about, ones that don't have generally accepted theories yet.

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Although sometimes more mathematics than physics, take a look at the millenium problems (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Prize_Problems). As a fluid dynamicist I think in particular the existence of a general solution to the Navier-Stokes equations is a big and continuously present problem for many physicist and fluid dynamicist – michielm Feb 19 at 7:54
According to which physical branch? Something may be very important for quantum physician, but it could also be uninteresting for another physician. – hkBattousai Feb 19 at 8:17
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@hkBattousai I didn't know medical doctors used quantum mechanics :P. – elfmotat Feb 19 at 8:42
Possible duplicate: physics.stackexchange.com/q/1453/2451 – Qmechanic♦ Feb 19 at 8:52

closed as not constructive by John Rennie, David Zaslavsky♦ Feb 19 at 8:48

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