Muons are elementary particles similar to electrons but with a greater mass. They belong to the family of particles known as leptons and are produced when cosmic rays collide with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere. Muons are unstable and have a short lifespan, decaying into other particles within microseconds. Despite their fleeting existence, muons can penetrate materials much more effectively than electrons due to their higher mass. This property makes them useful in various applications, including particle physics experiments and muon tomography, a technique used to image the interiors of large structures like volcanoes and pyramids.