The exhibition “Entwicklung des Universums” (Development of the Universe) presents current research themes and new insights. The exhibition was designed as a trip through time, beginning with the now universally well-known Big Bang theory by which the universe originated some 13.7 billion years ago when the earth was in an extremely dense and hot state.

In planning this exhibition, great emphasis was placed on simple visual language and short, easily understood explanations, so that this highly complex theme would be accessible to the general public. For instance, the rapid expansion of the universe following the Big Bang was illustrated with the help of a football. Exhibits, like the European Extremely Large Telescope currently being developed in Chile for the purpose of observing extra-solar planets, give visitors an insight into the innovative technologies and methods currently being applied.

A central communication task of this exhibition was to explain how closely researchers in the fields of astronomy and astro, nuclear and particle physics have to work together in order to achieve any scientific progress. Light is therefore shed on the genesis of the cosmos from various perspectives. The centrepoint of the exhibition is the large seating and reclining area for the “Cosmic Cinema” on the ceiling of the building, where the history of the universe is depicted in time-lapse mode.

The professional portrayal of content and creative use of multimedia elements obviously impressed not only the public but also the management of Deutsches Museum, who in 2011 decided to turn this special exhibition with a limited time span of 2 years into a permanent exhibition.