  The oldest enigma in fundamental particle physics is: Where do the observed
masses of elementary particles come from? Inspired by observation of the
empirical particle mass spectrum we propose that the masses of elementary
particles arise solely due to the self-interaction of the fields associated
with a particle. We thus assume that the mass is proportional to the strength
of the interaction of the field with itself. A simple application of this idea
to the fermions is seen to yield a mass for the neutrino in line with
constraints from direct experimental upper limits and correct order of
magnitude predictions of mass separations between neutrinos, charged leptons
and quarks. The neutrino interacts only through the weak force, hence becomes
light. The electron interacts also via electromagnetism and accordingly becomes
heavier. The quarks also have strong interactions and become heavy. The photon
is the only fundamental particle to remain massless, as it is chargeless.
Gluons gain mass comparable to quarks, or slightly larger due to a somewhat
larger color charge.
  Including particles outside the standard model proper, gravitons are not
exactly massless, but very light due to their very weak self-interaction.
  Some immediate and physically interesting consequences arise: i) Gluons have
an effective range $\sim 1$fm, physically explaining why QCD has finite reach
ii) Gravity has an effective range $\sim 100$ Mpc coinciding with the largest
known structures; the cosmic voids iii) Gravitational waves undergo dispersion
even in vacuum, and have all five polarizations (not just the two of $m=0$),
which might explain why they have not yet been detected.
