New Map of the Universe Lets Users 'Travel Through Space and Time'
2021-10-14
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1Swiss researchers say they have completed the most detailed virtual reality (VR) map of the universe ever created.
2The map permits users to "travel through space and time," the researchers said in a recent statement.
3It can be imagined as a kind of Google Earth, but for the universe.
4The map was created by a team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).
5With the help of VR headsets, users can visit places in the universe virtually.
6This includes the International Space Station, the Moon, Saturn and far away exoplanets.
7The software program is called the Virtual Reality Universe Project, or VIRUP.
8The researchers said they combined the largest data set of information about the universe to create the three-dimensional (3D) experience.
9People can see the virtual universe through VR equipment or with 3D glasses in a theater.
10A personal computer can also be used to see the universe in a non-3D way.
11Jean-Paul Kneib is the director of EPFL's astrophysics laboratory.
12He told The Associated Press one of the best parts of the project was putting together parts of the data set "into one framework."
13"You can see the universe at different scales -- nearby us, around the Earth, around the solar system, at the Milky Way level," Kneib said.
14"To see through the universe and time up to the beginning -- what we call the Big Bang."
15Many scientists believe the Big Bang is the explosion that created the universe.
16VIRUP produces images that can appear as close as one meter or seemingly at an infinite distance.
17It is available to everyone for free, but does require at least a computer and is best experienced with VR equipment that can also show 3D images.
18It aims to get many kinds of visitors.
19This includes both scientists looking to get a virtual picture of the data they collect and people seeking a new way to explore the universe.
20The software has been released in its first, or beta version.
21This version can run on personal computers, but not Mac computers from Apple.
22Downloading the software and content can be difficult for less skilled computer users.
23Users seeking the best experience will also need a powerful computer with a lot of storage.
24There are different versions of the software.
25A smaller version is aimed at the public and a larger one is meant for scientists or astronomy experts.
26The project combines information from eight databases.
27It includes at least 4,500 known exoplanets, tens of millions of galaxies and hundreds of millions of space objects.
28More than 1.5 billion light producing objects from the Milky Way alone are included.
29The researchers expect to continually add data, meaning the virtual experience will keep getting better with time.
30Future databases could include space rocks called asteroids in our solar system or farther objects in our galaxy.
31Yves Revaz is an astrophysicist with the EPFL who spoke to the AP about the effort.
32He called the system "a very efficient way of visiting all the different scales that compose our universe."
33Revaz added: "A very important part of this project is that it's a first step toward treating much larger data sets which are coming."
34I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Swiss researchers say they have completed the most detailed virtual reality (VR) map of the universe ever created. 2The map permits users to "travel through space and time," the researchers said in a recent statement. It can be imagined as a kind of Google Earth, but for the universe. The map was created by a team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). 3With the help of VR headsets, users can visit places in the universe virtually. This includes the International Space Station, the Moon, Saturn and far away exoplanets. 4The software program is called the Virtual Reality Universe Project, or VIRUP. The researchers said they combined the largest data set of information about the universe to create the three-dimensional (3D) experience. 5People can see the virtual universe through VR equipment or with 3D glasses in a theater. A personal computer can also be used to see the universe in a non-3D way. 6Jean-Paul Kneib is the director of EPFL's astrophysics laboratory. He told The Associated Press one of the best parts of the project was putting together parts of the data set "into one framework." 7"You can see the universe at different scales -- nearby us, around the Earth, around the solar system, at the Milky Way level," Kneib said. "To see through the universe and time up to the beginning -- what we call the Big Bang." Many scientists believe the Big Bang is the explosion that created the universe. 8VIRUP produces images that can appear as close as one meter or seemingly at an infinite distance. It is available to everyone for free, but does require at least a computer and is best experienced with VR equipment that can also show 3D images. 9It aims to get many kinds of visitors. This includes both scientists looking to get a virtual picture of the data they collect and people seeking a new way to explore the universe. 10The software has been released in its first, or beta version. This version can run on personal computers, but not Mac computers from Apple. 11Downloading the software and content can be difficult for less skilled computer users. Users seeking the best experience will also need a powerful computer with a lot of storage. 12There are different versions of the software. A smaller version is aimed at the public and a larger one is meant for scientists or astronomy experts. 13The project combines information from eight databases. It includes at least 4,500 known exoplanets, tens of millions of galaxies and hundreds of millions of space objects. More than 1.5 billion light producing objects from the Milky Way alone are included. 14The researchers expect to continually add data, meaning the virtual experience will keep getting better with time. Future databases could include space rocks called asteroids in our solar system or farther objects in our galaxy. 15Yves Revaz is an astrophysicist with the EPFL who spoke to the AP about the effort. He called the system "a very efficient way of visiting all the different scales that compose our universe." Revaz added: "A very important part of this project is that it's a first step toward treating much larger data sets which are coming." 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 18We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 19_________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21virtual reality (VR) - n. a set of images and sounds produced by a computer to represent a real place or situation 22headset -n. a device worn on the head that permits the use to see and hear computer images 23exoplanet - n. a planet that orbits a star outside our solar system 24three-dimensional (3D) - adj. having or appearing to have length, depth and height 25framework -n. a set of ideas or facts that provide support for something 26scale - n. the size or level of something 27infinite - adj. extremely large or great 28efficient - adj. working well and not wasting time or energy 29compose - v. to be the parts that something consists of