I'm facinated by what I call "the big number problem." I think it prevents us from understanding how large the galaxy is, let alone the universe - or how small the atom is, let alone an electron. We play all sorts of games to try to put it into perspective, comparing planets with ping pong balls, or marbles and putting the nucleus of an atom at the heart of domed sports stadium. Generally they don't work all that well - but here's one that's making the rounds of the internet today that I assume is inspired by the cost of war in Iraq. It works for me, maybe because for the most part it relies on time units that are within my experience. (thanks for forwarding this, Tori!)
TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH IS A BILLION
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one
advertising agency did a good job of putting that
figure into perspective in one of its releases:
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the
Stone Age.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes ago,
at the rate President Bush spends it.