Universe in a Nutshell 4+

We are but specks of dust in this extremely vast universe. The size of the universe to a human is not possibly perceivable, and yet this app has managed to make it almost possible. There are cute, funny descriptions of every single object you tap on, and I can stare for hours reading about each thing I tap on and zooming in and out to the smallest thing in the universe, to the universe itself, just barely grasping how small I really am. It is truly an experience to behold. And the fact that there is music and no ads make the whole journey from big to small so much more immersive. I’m so glad I’m helping support In a Nutshell by buying it. This app is a perfect example of their saying “Quality over quantity”. If the price had been one hundred times more, I still would have bought it. Thanks to everyone that made this masterpiece possible, you all deserve it. Kurzgesagt is keeping science beautiful, just how it’s supposed to be.

For those of us that fondly remember that classic space film from 1977...that’s right, I’m talking about “Powers of Ten: A Film Dealing with the Relative Size of Things in the Universe and the Effect of Adding Another Zero,” this app is the ultimate expression of the concepts first popularized in that epic saga. Universe in a Nutshell is packed with astounding detail about objects at every scale in our universe (even more than Katamari Damaci!). It’s a collaboration between two of my favorite explainers-of-things: Tim Urban (“Wait But Why?”) and Kurzgesagt (In a Nutshell). Beautifully illustrated, wittily written and expertly engineered, it’ll expand and contract your mind, ultimately leaving you out of breath as you sip the quantum foam from your piping-hot cup of supernova neutrinos in the restaurant at the end of the universe. I’ll rate it a Googol out of a Googol stars, which turns out to be way, way more than the number of stars in the observable universe.

I recall seeing science museum exhibit exactly like this when I was a kid. It was one of those memories that I cherish and remember because exploring everything that the world has to offer, both big and small, changes how you think about the world. It's genuinely fun to see the smallest to the largest items in our universe, and learn about everything along the way.

Kurzgasagt's Universe in a Nutshell has re-ignited my youthful curiosity and excitement after experiencing this app. It was really enjoyable to explore and play with, and I think it's a WONDERFUL first app for them!

I firmly belive the $2 cost is justified because it supports Kurzkesagt, gives you access to the app for life and any future improvements, and is worth the treasure trove of perspective and knowledge it has to offer.