CGP Grey explains the elegant ratio of A4 and the metric paper sizes, then zooms out across scales from the Planck length to the observable universe.
Why Hacker News points people here: Loved for its zoom-out tour of physical scales and recommended alongside other paper-size and scale-of-the-universe discussions.
“the most psychedelic experience one can have without doing drugs”HN comment, 2026
“the most psychedelic experience one can have without doing drugs”
Favorite CGP Grey video; psychedelic tour from Planck lengths to observable universe.
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You beat me in posting this (I searched for "CGP," first — you mispelled so I didn't see your comment). ---- My favorite CGP Grey video is Metric Paper... , which explores the vast (but limited) world we live in, from plancs to observable universe. [•] < this video > Before generative AI videos, this had been what I considered "the most psychedelic experience one can have without doing drugs ." It's still a trip ...
Strongly recommendsProllyInfamousApr 2026
“among my favorite videos”
Zoom-out video among commenter's favorites.
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Zoom out, too: [CGP Grey - Metric Paper] < this video > - among my favorite videos Yet even Plancks remain analogue ...
RecommendsjihadjihadJan 2026
“that is well worth a watch if you haven't seen it.”
Deeper detail into metric paper, well worth a watch.
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CPG Grey has a video [0] that goes into some, let's just say deeper , detail into metric paper that is well worth a watch if you haven't seen it. 0: this video
Cites itxanthFeb 2024
“Related CGPGrey video comparing metric paper sizes to comparable objects from the plank scale to the galactic”
Compares metric paper sizes to objects from Planck scale to galactic.
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Related CGPGrey video comparing metric paper sizes to comparable objects from the plank scale to the galactic[1]; could have been an XKCD comic [1]: this video
Cites itbogtogApr 2024
“Here is one by CPG Grey”
Another zoom in/out telling of physics scales.
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I think this Zoom in/out physics story has pretty widely been told. Here is one by CPG Grey: this video I like the one OP linked here. All the objects being clickable with a little description is nice
