NOVA Online | Runaway Universe

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Welcome to the companion Web site to "Runaway Universe," originally broadcast on November 11, 2000. The program follows the efforts of two rival teams of astronomers as they search for exploding stars, map out gigantic cosmic patterns of galaxies, and grapple with the ultimate question: What is the fate of the universe? Here's what you'll find online:

History of the Universe
This interactive timeline reveals the evolution of the universe from the big bang to the time 10¹⁰⁰ years from now when burned-out stars and black holes will have evaporated.
Birth of a Supernova
What exactly happens in a supernova explosion? This interactive feature demonstrates, step-by-step, the sequence of events that results in Type Ia and Type II supernovae.
Tour the Universe (VRML)
This VRML feature allows you to take an extensive tour of our local universe. Within this three-dimensional world, you can visit and find out about 2,000 of the galaxies that surround our own.
Moving Targets (Hot Science)
This activity shows how astronomers use the Doppler effect and redshift to determine how fast a stellar object is moving away from or toward us.
How Big is the Universe?
Cosmologist Brent Tully answers this question and discusses some of astronomy's latest developments.
Spin a Spiral Galaxy (QTVRs)
Included in this feature is an object VR that allows you to spin a spiral galaxy on two axes, revealing how a galaxy can appear to be elliptical, or round, or flat in shape, depending on your vantage point.
NOVA News Minute
Watch a news clip related to NOVA's "Runaway Universe" program.

NOVA Online is produced for PBS by the WGBH Science Unit
Major funding for NOVA is provided by the Park Foundation, Sprint, and Microsoft. Additional funding for Runaway Universe was provided by the National Science Foundation.