Swiss researchers say they have completed the most detailed virtual reality (VR) map of the universe ever created. The 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). With 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. The 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. People 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. Jean-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.” “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. VIRUP 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.
Title: New Map of the Universe Lets Users ‘Travel Through Space and Time’
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/A.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='New Map of the Universe Lets Users Travel Through Space and Time' data-article-id='5933'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='12521'>Swiss researchers say they have completed the most detailed virtual reality (VR) map of the universe ever created.</span> <span data-start-time='12521' data-end-time='23875'>The map permits users to “travel through space and time,” the researchers said in a recent statement. </span> <span data-start-time='23875' data-end-time='31208'>It can be imagined as a kind of Google Earth, but for the universe. </span> <span data-start-time='31208' data-end-time='40396'>The map was created by a team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).</span> <span data-start-time='40396' data-end-time='49792'>With the help of VR headsets, users can visit places in the universe virtually. </span> <span data-start-time='49792' data-end-time='60708'>This includes the International Space Station, the Moon, Saturn and far away exoplanets.</span> <span data-start-time='60708' data-end-time='70104'>The software program is called the Virtual Reality Universe Project, or VIRUP. </span> <span data-start-time='70104' data-end-time='83708'>The researchers said they combined the largest data set of information about the universe to create the three-dimensional (3D) experience.</span> <span data-start-time='83708' data-end-time='93875'>People can see the virtual universe through VR equipment or with 3D glasses in a theater. </span> <span data-start-time='93875' data-end-time='101875'>A personal computer can also be used to see the universe in a non-3D way.</span> <span data-start-time='101875' data-end-time='110500'>Jean-Paul Kneib is the director of EPFL's astrophysics laboratory. </span> <span data-start-time='110500' data-end-time='123146'>He told The Associated Press one of the best parts of the project was putting together parts of the data set “into one framework.”</span> <span data-start-time='123146' data-end-time='137292'>“You can see the universe at different scales -- nearby us, around the Earth, around the solar system, at the Milky Way level," Kneib said. </span> <span data-start-time='137292' data-end-time='145188'>To see through the universe and time up to the beginning -- what we call the Big Bang. </span> <span data-start-time='145188' data-end-time='153729'>Many scientists believe the Big Bang is the explosion that created the universe.</span> <span data-start-time='153729' data-end-time='164625'>VIRUP produces images that can appear as close as one meter or seemingly at an infinite distance. </span> <span data-start-time='164625' data-end-time='180083'>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.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/A.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=18168 data-hint-location='49792' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/what_is_an_exoplanet.wav'>What is an exoplanet?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='a planet that orbits a star outside our solar system'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/a_planet_that_orbits_a_star_outside_our_solar_system.wav'><span>a planet that orbits a star outside our solar system</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/a_place_that_people_visit_to_lift_weights_and_conduct_strength_routines.wav'><span>a place that people visit to lift weights and conduct strength routines</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/device_worn_on_the_head_that_permits_the_use_to_see_and_hear_computer_images.wav'><span>device worn on the head that permits the use to see and hear computer images</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/a_set_of_ideas_or_facts_that_provide_support_for_something.wav'><span>a set of ideas or facts that provide support for something</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=18169 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/what_does_vr_stand_for.wav'>What does VR stand for?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='virtual reality'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/virtual_reality.wav'><span>virtual reality</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/very_real.wav'><span>very real</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/venus_reality.wav'><span>Venus reality</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/video_realm.wav'><span>video realm</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=18170 data-hint-location='145188' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/many_scientists_believe_the_big_bang_is_the_explosion_that_created_the__blank_.wav'>Many scientists believe the Big Bang is the explosion that created the <span class='blank'>universe</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='universe'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/universe.wav'><span>universe</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/television.wav'><span>television</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/pollution.wav'><span>pollution</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5343/factory.wav'><span>factory</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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