An electron is an incredibly tiny particle that carries electrical charge and moves around the center (or nucleus) of atoms. Think of electrons as the workers of the atomic world: they're constantly moving, and their movement creates electricity, powers our lights, runs our computers, and makes chemistry possible.

Electrons are so small that you'd need about 20 billion billion of them lined up to stretch across a single inch. Yet despite their size, they're powerful. When electrons flow through a wire, they create an electric current that powers everything from light bulbs to smartphones. The static electricity that makes your hair stand up after rubbing a balloon on it happens when electrons jump from one surface to another.

Every atom contains electrons moving around its nucleus a bit like planets orbiting a sun, though they move much faster and in more complex patterns. The number of electrons an atom has usually matches the number of protons in its nucleus and helps determine how the atom behaves in chemical reactions. When atoms share or exchange electrons, they form chemical bonds, creating many of the substances you see around you: water, wood, plastic, even your own body.

Scientists discovered electrons in 1897, and understanding them revolutionized technology. Today's computers work by controlling the flow of billions of electrons through tiny circuits, switching them on and off millions of times per second to process information.