Madrone’s normal quiet was broken by the sound of music, and lights flashed on the horizon just to the west. A quick stroll in that direction yielded a completely unexpected sight – the About Us installation, a laser light show projected onto the side of the Tower of London. Over the course of 30 minutes, the history of life as we know it in the universe unreeled in front of us, accompanied by music.

We joined the rest of the onlookers, transfixed by the spectacle.