The Scale of the Universe 2

This classic interactive puts cells, animals, buildings, planets, and cosmic structures on one continuous scale you can zoom through.

What is The Scale of the Universe 2?

The Scale of the Universe 2 creates perspective by refusing to break scale into separate chapters. Drag the control and familiar objects shrink away, replaced by molecules and particles in one direction or planets and galaxies in the other. Selecting an object reveals a short explanation, but the larger lesson comes from the uninterrupted journey. The distance between ordinary human experience and either extreme becomes something you feel rather than merely read.

Why we picked it

It takes an idea full of intimidating exponents and gives it a single, intuitive control. Years after release, it remains an unusually effective piece of interactive education.

How to get the most from it

Move slowly and click objects that are new to you. Make the full journey in both directions before jumping to a favorite scale.

Good to know

The interface is free and needs no account. It is an older web experience, so a desktop browser may provide the smoothest controls.