Power of Nature: Tracing the Universe Within Us
“We are made of star stuff” — Carl Sagan, Cosmos (1980) A journey of fundamental particles across the scales of the Observable Universe and forces that shape the cosmos and life.
By The Amaranthine Foundation
From the first light after the Big Bang 10²⁶m scale to galaxies, planets, Earth’s ecosystems, and inward to atoms and the Planck scale 10⁻³⁵.
Power of Nature – The Observable Universe: Nature’s Scales
This film explores the Observable Universe through the lens of nature’s scales, revealing the vast spectrum of dimensions that exist across the cosmos. All scales presented in the film are expressed in meters (m).
10²⁶ The Observable Universe Large-Scale Projection of the Illustris Universe (2014-05-08) by Illustris Collaboration, a multi-institution international collaboration including: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (USA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, USA), Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (Germany), Durham University (UK) and Leiden University (Netherlands)The Amaranthine Foundation
10^26 m — Observable universe
Origins of the fundamental particles: our Observable Universe has expanded for 13.8 billion years and now spans roughly 90 billion light-years. Within the first three minutes of the Big Bang, protons and neutrons created atomic nuclei.
10²¹⁻²³ Intergalactic Scale MACS J0717: A Cosmic Quartet in Collision (2016-03-10) by NASA, ESA, CXC, NRAO/AUI/NSF, STScI, and R. van Weeren (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) Acknowledgment: NASA, ESA, J. Lotz (STScI), and the HFF teamThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^23 m — Intergalactic scale
Elements in intergalactic space: stellar and supernova debris drift through the vast expanses between galaxies, creating a sparse but vital reservoir of atoms. Over billions of years, these wandering elements seed new stars, galaxies, and planetary systems.
10²⁰ Galactic Scale Nebular Structures and Star Formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud (2025-09-12) by ESA/Hubble & NASA, photographed and processed by C. Murray and J. Maíz ApellánizThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^20 m — Galactic scale
Distribution of elements within galaxies: heavy elements from dying stars spread through galactic gas and dust, enriching regions with carbon, oxygen, and iron. This cosmic recycling fuels the formation of new stars and planets.
10⁹ Stellar Scale The Helix Nebula — A Star Unraveling (2012-10-03) by X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; UV: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSC; Optical: NASA/ STScI/M. Meixner, ESA/NRAO/T.A. Rector; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/K. SuThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^9 m — Stellar scale
Element creation inside stars: inside stars, lighter elements like hydrogen and helium combine through nuclear fusion to form heavier elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. When massive stars reach the end of their life, they explode as supernovae.
10⁷ Planetary Scale (Space) Earth — Our Home of Life and Human Intelligence (1972) by Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space CenterThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^7 m — Planetary formation scale
Delivery of elements to young planets: small planetary bodies and collisions deliver essential elements to forming planets. Dense elements like iron form planetary cores, while lighter elements—carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur—shape crusts, oceans, and atmosphere.
10⁹ Stellar Scale Messier 78 — The Birthplace of Stars (2024) by ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay), G. AnselmiThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^6 m — Planet formation in stellar nurseries
Dust and gas around young stars: form a rotating protoplanetary disk where elements like carbon, oxygen, iron, and sulfur condense into solid particles that collide and stick together, seeding the formation and architecture of future planets.
10⁷ Planetary Scale (Space) Asteroids — Cosmic Carriers of Life’s Building Blocks (2023) by ESA / Gaia / DPAC; image created using Gaia DR3 data and visualization tools (Stefan Jordan, Toni Sagristà, Paolo Tanga; Gaia Sky by Toni Sagristà)The Amaranthine Foundation
10^4 m — Asteroid scale
Asteroids - building blocks of planets: asteroids, small rocky bodies orbiting the Sun, contain carbon compounds, iron-nickel metals, sulfates, and water-bearing minerals. They are remnants of early solar system formation.
10⁷ Planetary Scale (Earth) Lena River Delta: Arctic Lifeline for Earth and People (2019-06-21) by Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2019), processed by ESAThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^3 m - Planetary scale ecosystems
Elements supporting life on Earth: elements forged in stars arrived on Earth and became part of ecosystems, cycling through soil, water, air, plants, and animals. Carbon and oxygen sustain forests, grasslands, and ocean life; nitrogen and phosphorus drive growth.
10⁷ Planetary Scale (Earth) Mississippi Delta: America’s Vital Coastal Lifeline (2010-05-26) by NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team, Jesse AllenThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^2 m - Earth’s interconnected ecosystems
Interconnected Life: together, these elements form the foundation of Earth’s complex web of life. They sustain ecosystems at every scale—from microscopic bacteria and single-celled organisms to towering trees, flowering plants, and diverse land animals.
10⁷ Planetary Scale (Earth) Amazon Rainforest: Ecosystem Structure Supporting Life (1992) by Dr. Mark W MoffettThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^0 m - Human scale
Essential elements for human life: the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and iron are essential for all human life. They form the backbone of DNA, proteins that make up cells, and iron is essential for oxygen transport in the blood.
10⁻⁶ Cellular Scale The Powerhouse of the Human Body: Liver Cells at Work (2014) by Donna Beer Stolz, University of Pittsburgh, source: The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)The Amaranthine Foundation
10^-6 m — Cellular scale
Essential elements for the formation of cells: within cells, elements like phosphorus, sulfur, and iron are vital for life. Together, these elements allow cells to grow, function, and survive.
10⁻⁹ Nanoscale Scale The Living Architecture of the Human Brain (2024-05-10) by Google Research & Lichtman Lab (Harvard University). Rendered by D. Berger (Harvard University)The Amaranthine Foundation
10^-9 m — Nanoscale scale
Molecules and nanostructures: at the nanoscale, atoms are arranged into specific structures, and chemical bonds hold them to form molecules. These nanostructures are essential for life, making up proteins, DNA, and cell components.
10⁻¹⁰ Atomic Scale Purple Patterns of the Invisible: Atoms in Praseodymium Scandate (2021-05-21) by Dr. David Anthony Muller, Dr Zhen Chen, Cornell UniversityThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^⁻10 m — Atomic scale
Atoms form molecules: atoms, created in stars and scattered across the cosmos, form matter whose protons, neutrons, and electrons govern bonding, chemical reactions, and the emergence of life.
10⁻¹⁵ Nuclear Scale The Carbon-12 Nucleus: Six Protons, Six Neutrons Revealed (2023-05-15) by Dr. Dean Lee, Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Head of the Theoretical Nuclear Science Department, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), Michigan State University, USAThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^⁻15 m — Nuclear scale
Protons, neutrons, and atomic nuclei: the nuclei of atoms—protons and neutrons—were created in stars and during supernovae. These nuclear reactions produced the heavier elements, such as carbon, oxygen, and iron, that make up planets and life.
10⁻¹⁶ Subatomic Scale Spirals of Discovery: Visualizing Invisible Particle Tracks (2022-07-27) by CERN / CERN‑EX‑66954BThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^⁻16 m — Subatomic particle scale
Quarks and gluons form protons and neutrons, as well as other
particles that are unstable and exist only for a short time. Together with electrons, these subatomic particles comprise nearly all of the visible matter in our universe.
10⁷ Planetary Scale (Earth) Ozone Layer: Protecting Life on Earth (2012-09-17) by NASA Earth Observatory / NASA Science, captured by an astronaut of the International Space Station Expedition 31 crewThe Amaranthine Foundation
10^⁻16 m — Planck scale
Space and time: at the Planck scale, quantum gravity defines the smallest units of space and time, establishing the fundamental framework for matter and energy. These limits shape the observable universe, underpinning the cosmic journey from subatomic particles to planets and life.
POWER OF NATURE – SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY CONTRIBUTIONS
Observable Universe (10²⁶ m) – Dr. C. L. Bennett (Johns Hopkins University); CMB research building on Nobel Laureates Dr. R. W. Wilson and Dr. J. C. Mather; with Dr. N. Mandolesi and Dr. J. M. Kovac, K. Baker
Intergalactic Scale (10²¹–²³ m) – Dr. L. Page (Princeton)
Galactic Scale (10²⁰ m) – Dr. J. Mulchaey (Carnegie Science)
Stellar Scale (10⁹ m) – Dr. R. Osten (STScI)
Planetary Scale (10⁷ m) – Dr. S. Sheppard; Dr. M. W. Moffett
Cellular Scale (10⁻⁶ m) – Dr. L. Dietrich (Columbia University)
Nanoscale (10⁻⁹ m) – Dr. J. W. Lichtman (Harvard)
Atomic Scale (10⁻¹⁰ m) – Dr. D. Muller (Cornell)
Nuclear Scale (10⁻¹⁵ m) – Dr. D. Lee (Michigan State University)
Subatomic Scale (10⁻¹⁶ m) – Dr. Z. Davoudi (University of Maryland)
Planck Scale (10⁻³⁵ m) – Dr. C. Johnson (UC Santa Barbara); Dr. J. Maldacena (IAS)
Curatorial coordination across all scales: Dr. S. Piesik
We gratefully acknowledge U. S. Steel for their generous sponsorship.
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