APP OF THE DAY
Big Bang AR
Big Bang AR
The story of our universe
Using augmented reality (AR) models created by the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN), Big Bang AR helps you visualize the very ancient history of our universe in vivid detail.
What we love: Seeing how atoms materialize from quarks and electrons, walking near stars to hear the sound they make as they form, and appreciating the beauty of a sparkling supernova. At any point during the AR experience, tap the chapter button at the bottom of the screen to read more about the big bang, star formations, and the tens of billions of Earth-size planets in our galaxy that have the right conditions to support life.
Quick tip: Skip to chapter 6 to snap a “star selfie” and see the estimated percentage of chemical elements in your body that originated from ancient stars—or the big bang itself.
Meet the creator: Big Bang AR was created by CERN and Google Arts & Culture. Rolf Landua, the app’s scientific adviser and head of CERN’s education group, asked Tilda Swinton if she wanted to be the app’s voice artist when she visited CERN. Without hesitation, Swinton said, “Yes, with pleasure.”