Powers of Ten: 1977 Short Film by Designers Ray & Charles Eames Gives Brilliant Tour of Universe

In 1977, Ray and Charles Eames, the famous LA designers, produced the short film Powers of Ten. The movie starts with a fixed point in Chicago, then zooms out into the universe by factors of ten. And, before too long, you find yourself 100 million light years away. Based on Kees Boeke’s 1957 book, Cosmic View, the 10-minute film offers what amounts to a breathtaking tour of the universe. This clip was sent our way by Helena, who will get a free copy of the new Rolling Stones documentary, Stones in Exile.


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  1. Helena says . . . | July 27, 2010 / 3:26 pm

    I am glad you selected this video and look forward to the Stones documentary. Thank you. Helena @helkalin

  2. Shae says . . . | August 1, 2010 / 9:36 am

    I saw this (or actually I think an older version of it) at a college orientation program years ago, and became obsessed with it. For years I tried to find it and buy it and couldn’t find it at all, then I could find it but only teachers could buy it, then finally it went on the market and I got a copy.

  3. Lars says . . . | August 2, 2010 / 12:52 pm

    You’ve gotta love that soundtrack. It sounds just like the future sounded in 1968.

  4. Ramasubramaniyan says . . . | January 4, 2011 / 6:48 pm

    The video Sounds the idea that the protons and neutrons are present both outside of the world and inside of the body…………..by the powers of ten

  5. Jeyaprakash says . . . | June 27, 2012 / 12:33 am

    May be you can watch in youtube more clearer..
    Thanks for the video.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0

  6. paul says . . . | January 14, 2013 / 12:52 pm

    this is the 1977 version. the 1968 version is different than this.

  7. Pat says . . . | March 18, 2013 / 2:39 am

    Powers of Ten inspired many of us… including app developers: see Cozmic Zoom on Android. Now you can zoom the universe with a swipe of a finger.

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