Google Gravity and Lava are interactive web experiments created by developer Ricardo Cabello, better known as Mr.doob. While they aren't traditional "software" that receives formal critical reviews, they are widely celebrated as classic examples of creative JavaScript and 2D physics simulations. Google Gravity
This is a parody of the Google homepage where all the elements—the logo, search bar, and buttons—fall to the bottom of the screen as if pulled by gravity.
The Experience: Once the elements crash, you can click and drag them with your mouse to toss them around the screen. Remarkably, the search bar still works; if you type and press enter, search results will fall from the top of the screen like falling debris.
Impact: Created in 2009, it became one of the most famous "Easter Eggs" (though technically a third-party project), showcasing the power of early web browsers to handle real-time physics.
How to Play: Visit Mr.doob's Google Gravity or type "Google Gravity" into the main Google search bar and click "I'm Feeling Lucky". Lava
Usually referred to as Ball Pool, this experiment features a blank canvas where colorful circular "balls" (sometimes mistaken for lava-like blobs) respond to your mouse and gravity. Google Gravity Lava Mr Doob
The Experience: You can spawn balls by clicking and then shake the browser window to see them bounce and collide. It uses a custom-built 2D physics engine to simulate mass and momentum.
Interactive Design: It is often cited in design communities like Creative Applications as a masterclass in "juicy" interaction design—making simple web elements feel physical and satisfying to play with. The Developer: Mr.doob
Ricardo Cabello is a legend in web development, also known for being the primary author of three.js, a popular library used to create 3D graphics in a web browser. His experiments are typically "open source," allowing other developers to see how he achieves these physics effects. doob's 3D work? Interview with Mr.doob
━━━━ Ricardo Cabello, aka Mr. doob, is a self-taught web developer based in London (he originally hails from Barcelona). GitHub Pages documentation
How to Do the Google Gravity Trick in Your Browser - wikiHow Google Gravity and Lava are interactive web experiments
It was a typical Tuesday morning for John, scrolling through his favorite YouTube videos on his computer. As he sipped his coffee, his eyes landed on a quirky video titled "Google Gravity Lava Mr Doob". He had no idea what it was, but the combination of Google, Gravity, Lava, and Mr Doob piqued his curiosity.
He clicked on the video, and suddenly, he was transported to a mesmerizing digital world. The video showed a simulation of the Google homepage, but with a twist. The logos and search bar were floating in mid-air, as if they were in a zero-gravity environment.
As John watched, a stream of lava began to flow from the bottom of the screen, slowly rising up and engulfing the Google elements. The lava was a deep, fiery red, and it seemed to defy the laws of physics as it flowed upwards.
Suddenly, a cartoonish figure appeared on the screen. It was Mr Doob, a character known for his wacky animations and interactive experiments. He was floating in front of the Google logo, laughing maniacally as he controlled the lava flow with his mouse.
John was captivated by the video. He couldn't help but interact with it, using his own mouse to manipulate the lava and try to save the Google elements from destruction. As he played with the simulation, he felt like a kid in a digital playground. or glowing textures.
As the video came to an end, John felt a pang of nostalgia. He remembered playing with interactive simulations like this when he was younger, exploring the weird and wonderful world of web-based experiments.
Inspired by the video, John decided to explore more of Mr Doob's creations. He spent the rest of the morning browsing through the animator's website, discovering new and fantastical worlds, each one more mesmerizing than the last.
From that day on, John made it a point to visit Mr Doob's website regularly, always on the lookout for new and exciting experiments to play with. And every time he searched for something on Google, he couldn't help but wonder what other digital wonders lay hidden in the depths of the internet.
How's that? I can make changes or continue the story if you'd like!
| Aspect | Detail | |--------|--------| | Performance | Lava shaders + physics can be heavy on integrated GPUs. | | Mobile support | Poor (touch events exist but framerate drops). | | Google updates | Modern Google homepage may break older scripts; mirrors use static mockups. | | Security | Always run from trusted domains (no downloads, just JS/Canvas). |
“Google Gravity Lava” is a creative variation of the original Google Gravity experiment created by Mr Doob (the pseudonym of Portuguese developer Ricardo Cabello). While the classic Google Gravity makes all Google homepage elements fall due to simulated gravity, the “Lava” version adds a lava lamp–like, molten visual effect to the falling objects — typically combining particle systems, heat distortion, or glowing textures.
mrdoob.com (or search "Mr Doob Google Gravity").