Mr Doob - Google Gravity Lava

Google Gravity is a popular web experiment created by the creative coder Ricardo Cabello, better known as Mr.doob. Launched in 2009, it serves as a playful demonstration of physics-based interactions in a browser environment. The Experiment

When users navigate to the Mr.doob project page or search for "Google Gravity" and click "I'm Feeling Lucky," the familiar Google homepage appears to collapse.

Physics Interaction: Every element on the page—the logo, search bar, and buttons—falls to the bottom as if pulled down by gravity.

Tactile Play: Users can "grab" these broken elements with their mouse and toss them around the screen, watching them bounce off one another.

Functional Search: Surprisingly, the search bar remains functional; entering a query and hitting enter will cause new search result blocks to fall from the top of the screen into the pile. Variants & "Lava" Edition

The "Lava" variant is a community-driven iteration or derivative of the original physics engine. While Mr.doob created the core gravity and space experiments, third-party sites like elgooG and others have hosted versions styled with "Lava" themes. Mr.doob | Three.js Quake

Water Type 2010 / 06 / 4. Three.js 2010 / 04 / 23. Harmony 2010 / 03 / 08 ... Google Gravity 2009 / 03 / 18. Ball Pool 2009 / 02 /

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.

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. Google Gravity Lava Mr Doob

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!

Here’s a solid write-up on Google Gravity Lava by Mr. Doob, breaking down what it is, how it works, and why it’s become a cult classic in browser-based experiments.

Is It Still Accessible?

Yes. While Mr. Doob’s official site (mrdoob.com) hosts many experiments, the lava variant often appears in fan archives or direct clones. You can also find it by searching “Google Gravity Lava Mr Doob” – though modern browsers may require enabling WebGL or clicking “Run” on interactive results. Some versions work best on desktop Chrome or Firefox, with hardware acceleration turned on.

How It Works

Built with three.js (a 3D library Mr. Doob himself contributed heavily to), the experiment hijacks the structure of Google’s real homepage. It:

  1. Renders each DOM element as a separate physics body.
  2. Applies gravity and collision detection using a lightweight JavaScript physics engine.
  3. Overlays a lava shader – a custom GLSL texture – onto every fragment, giving the illusion of bubbling, glowing magma.

The result is real-time destruction that feels organic. Click and drag to toss elements around; watch them stack, slide, and partially “melt” into each other.

The "Lava" Component: Melting the Interface

The term "Google Gravity Lava" is a bit of a community-bred hybrid. While Mr. Doob created a separate, stunning "Lava" experiment (a 3D flowing lava texture using shaders), clever users and modders began combining the two ideas.

In the purest form of "Google Gravity Lava," you aren't just dropping a search bar; you are watching the interface melt. Imagine the Google logo dripping like hot magma, the search box dissolving into red and orange particles, and the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button oozing down the screen like hot wax.

While the official Mr. Doob site hosts the gravity experiment and the lava experiment separately, many fan-made versions and bookmarklets merge the two. Here is what you typically see in a "Lava Gravity" experience:

  1. The Collapse: The Google homepage falls apart instantly.
  2. The Melt: Instead of rigid blocks, pieces stretch, distort, or glow with a heat map effect.
  3. Particle Effects: Leftover elements turn into glowing embers that float around your cursor.
  4. Color Palette: The usual blue, red, yellow, and green of Google are replaced with deep oranges, fiery reds, and volcanic blacks.

4. Access & Usage

9. References & Further Exploration

Report compiled by: AI Assistant
Date: April 12, 2026
Document ID: REP-MRDOOB-LAVA-001

Google Gravity is a famous interactive experiment created by

(Ricardo Cabello) that visualises what would happen if gravity suddenly affected the Google homepage, causing its elements to crash to the bottom of the screen.

While there isn't a specific "Lava" version officially released by Mr.doob, his experiments are built using the Matter.js 2D physics engine. If you are looking to "create paper"—meaning a technical breakdown or a project report—here is a structured outline of how the Google Gravity simulation functions: Technical Overview: Google Gravity Google Gravity is a popular web experiment created

DOM DeconstructionThe script first identifies every individual element on the standard Google search page (the logo, search bar, buttons, and links). It then strips them of their static positions in the browser's layout.

Physics Engine Integration (Matter.js)Each HTML element is mapped to a physical "body" within a 2D physics world.

Rigid Bodies: Each button or text box is treated as a rectangle with mass and friction.

Gravity Vector: A constant downward force is applied to the world.

Real-Time RenderingThe simulation runs an animation loop (typically 60 frames per second). In each frame:

The physics engine calculates new positions based on collisions and momentum.

The CSS transform or top/left properties of the HTML elements are updated to match the engine's coordinates.

User InteractionUsers can "pick up" and throw elements using the mouse. This is achieved by creating a temporary "constraint" (like an invisible rubber band) between the mouse cursor and the physics body. Simulating "Lava"

If you wanted to add a "Lava" effect to this "paper," you would mathematically define a fluid buoyancy or viscosity layer at the bottom of the screen:

Density: Elements would float or sink based on their assigned mass relative to the "lava."

Drag Force: As elements fall into the lava, a high-resistance force would be applied to simulate thick liquid movement. If you’d like, I can help you further by:

Writing the HTML/JavaScript code snippet to recreate a basic gravity effect.

Explaining how to use Matter.js for custom physics projects. Is It Still Accessible

Finding other Mr.doob experiments (like the "Google Sphere" or "Internet Explorer 6" effects).

Google Gravity is an interactive web experiment created by Ricardo Cabello, a developer widely known as Mr.doob. It is a physics-based simulation that breaks the standard layout of the Google homepage, causing all interface elements—such as the logo, search bar, and buttons—to fall to the bottom of the browser window as if affected by gravity. ☄️ Key Experiments by Mr.doob

Mr.doob is a pioneer in browser-based physics and graphics, often using JavaScript and HTML5 to push the limits of web browsers. His Google-themed experiments include:

Google Gravity: The most famous version where homepage elements crash to the floor. You can drag and throw the "fallen" pieces with your mouse.

Google Space: A zero-gravity variant released around the same time as Angry Birds Space. Instead of falling, the elements float weightlessly across the screen.

Google Sphere: An experiment where search elements rotate in a 3D sphere around the logo.

Underwater Search: While sometimes attributed to various "tricks" sites, similar physics concepts allow users to "drop" the Google logo into a virtual ocean, creating waves and interacting with sea creatures. 🔥 The "Lava" Concept

The term Google Gravity Lava often refers to unofficial fan-made variations or "remixes" of Mr.doob's original code.

Visual Style: These versions typically replace the standard white background with a volcanic or "lava" theme.

Interaction: In some versions, clicking the surface creates red squares or heat-distorted effects, simulating the appearance of molten lava.

Availability: Unlike the original Mr.doob experiments which are hosted on his personal portfolio, "Lava" versions are usually found on third-party "mirror" sites like elgooG or other tribute pages. 🛠️ How to Access Google Gravity

Although Google's official homepage no longer supports these scripts directly, you can still play with them through several methods:

Direct Portfolio: Visit the original Google Gravity project on mrdoob.com.

"I'm Feeling Lucky": Traditionally, typing "Google Gravity" into the main search bar and clicking "I'm Feeling Lucky" would trigger the effect.

Mirrors: Sites like elgooG have updated the code to work with modern browsers, as the original 2009 API is now retired. If you'd like, I can help you: Find other Mr.doob projects (like his famous Three.js work) Explain the code behind the physics (JavaScript and Box2D) Find other Google Easter eggs (like "Do a barrel roll") Let me know which path you'd like to explore! Mr.doob | Three.js Quake