Charm quarks are one of the six types of quarks in particle physics. They have a positive electric charge of +2/3 and are heavier than up and down quarks. Charm quarks combine with other quarks to form particles called mesons and baryons, which are essential components of matter. These quarks were first discovered in the 1970s during experiments at particle accelerators. The existence of charm quarks helped confirm the Standard Model of particle physics, which describes the fundamental particles and forces in the universe. Their unique properties contribute to the understanding of strong interactions and the behavior of matter at a subatomic level.