Precision lattice QCD calculations and predictions of fundamental physics in heavy quark systems

I describe the recent success in performing accurate calculations of the effects of the strong force on particles containing bottom and charm quarks. Since quarks are never seen in isolation, and so cannot be studied directly, numerical simulations are key to understanding the properties of these particles and extracting information about the quarks. The results have direct impact on the worldwide experimental programme that is aiming to determine the parameters of the Standard Model of particle physics precisely and thereby uncover or constrain the possibilities for physics beyond the Standard Model. The numerical simulation of the strong force is a huge computational task and the recent success is the result of international collaboration in developing techniques that are fast enough to do the calculations on powerful supercomputers.