U is for Universe

When we think about the universe, we usually think about its vast size, and the enormous objects within it. But, there is a whole other universe within the universe when we look in the opposite direction: at the universe of the very small.

In fact, people are bigger from the perspective of the smallest particle in the universe than the approximate size of the entire universe is to people. One of my favorite online toys, the interactive "Scale of the Universe," shows this idea very clearly.

The truly amusing thing about this is that displaying even a small shift in scale can seem trippy to us humans. Take the following gif, for example. I'm using a macro lens on my phone, then remove it to show what we are really looking at. Weird, huh?

Here are a few tweets about the #universe:

Astronomy Cast Ep. 375: The Search For Life in the Solar System: With the discovery of water ice in so... http://t.co/mZmztgd3Wx #space
— Marius (@MMNewzz) April 26, 2015

#Space: the #clusters of #monster #stars that lit up the early #Universe ► http://t.co/pbKxtvaOkh via @physorg_com pic.twitter.com/b9ubb1wbBb
— Maxime Duprez (@maximaxoo) April 26, 2015

Discovering The Secrets Of The #Universe Is Only The Beginning! Help us to #reward outstanding young researchers: http://t.co/M5G1HFocY1
— Fiat Physica (@fiatphysica) April 26, 2015

We effect more than we can possibly know. With every mood/thought/word/gesture,we change our #lives & our #Universe. pic.twitter.com/SFHpvCtez5
— Gauri Maa (@dharammegha) April 26, 2015