in particle physics, photons are responsible for electromagnetic force. electromagnetism is an idea that combines electricity with magnetism. one common way that we experience electromagnetism in our daily lives is light, which is caused by electromagnetism. electromagnetism is also responsible for charge, which is the reason that you can not push your hand through a table. since photons are the force-carrying particle of electromagnetism, they are also gauge bosons. some matter–called dark matter–is not believed to be affected by electromagnetism. this would mean that dark matter does not have a charge, and does not give off light.