A single illustration reveals the entirety of cosmic history

Our observable Universe has evolved tremendously since its inception.

Growing from a minuscule past, its history covers 13.8 billion years.

Across space and time, many epochs and milestones have unfolded.

The earliest phase we’re certain of is cosmic inflation: an energetic, supremely fast expansion period.

That sets up the hot Big Bang: a dense soup of particles and antiparticles.

We swiftly formed baryons, then atomic nuclei, and soon after, neutral atoms.

Once atoms stably form, gravitation begins slowly growing cosmic structures.

The first stars form, illuminating and eventually reionizing the depths of space.

Galaxies — great collections of stars — grow by accreting matter and merging together.

The dominant form of cosmic mass is dark matter, not atom-based normal matter.

Its gravity forms galactic groups and clusters, and later, a filamentary cosmic web.

After billions of years evolving, our Milky Way becomes recognizable.

Within it, a familiar star and stellar system form: our cosmic home.

Meanwhile, dark energy rises to cosmic prominence, accelerating unbound cosmic objects away.

4.5 billion years after Earth’s formation, an intelligent, technologically advanced species arises upon it.

By pooling our resources and working together, we achieve great milestones.

Remarkably, a single artistic illustration can encapsulate it all.

Mostly Mute Monday tells an astronomical story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words.

This article A single illustration reveals the entirety of cosmic history is featured on Big Think.