Zoom the universe
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Exploring the Concept of "Zooming the Universe"
Introduction to the Zoomable Universe
The concept of "zooming the universe" involves exploring the universe at various scales, from the vastness of galaxies to the minutiae of subatomic particles. This idea is vividly illustrated in the book "The Zoomable Universe: An Epic Tour Through Cosmic Scale, from Almost Everything to Nearly Nothing" by Caleb Scharf and Ron Miller. The book discusses the presence of atoms in various forms of life, the dominance of dark matter and dark energy, and the emergence of life from molecular interactions1.
Powers of Ten and Scalar Travel
The film "Powers of Ten" by Charles and Ray Eames is a foundational work that explores scalar travel, depicting entities from atoms to galaxies at graduated scales. The film starts with a picnic scene and zooms out to the edges of the universe, then zooms back in to the interior of a proton, revealing breathtaking structures at each scale2 8. This concept is also explored in the film "Cosmic Zoom," which, despite its similarities to "Powers of Ten," employs a more subjective and expressive mode of representation5.
Virtual Reality and Educational Applications
The immersive educational virtual reality application "Orders of Magnitude" allows users to explore known scales in the universe by zooming in and out. This application includes elements such as galaxies, stars, the solar system, Earth, the human brain, neurons, DNA, atoms, and subatomic particles, providing a scientifically accurate experience3.
Cosmological Zoom-in Simulations
Cosmological zoom-in simulations are a powerful tool for studying galaxy formation and evolution. The AGORA High-resolution Galaxy Simulations Comparison Project uses these simulations to study a Milky Way–mass halo, achieving high numerical accuracy and resolving the internal structure of target halos6. Similarly, the UniverseMachine model applies zoom-in simulations to predict galaxy star formation over a wide range of halo masses, extending predictions into the ultrafaint dwarf galaxy regime7.
Advances in Simulation Techniques
Recent advancements in simulation techniques have led to the development of new methods for generating initial conditions for cosmological N-body simulations. The genetIC code allows for precise alterations to be made to arbitrary regions of the simulation, supporting initial conditions with nested zoom regions at progressively increasing resolution4. Additionally, deep zoom-in simulations of fuzzy dark matter galactic halos have been conducted, revealing unique wave-like effects and granular structures within halos9.
Public Data Releases
The FIRE-2 project has released public data from its cosmological zoom-in simulations of galaxy formation. These simulations achieve parsec-scale resolution and include detailed models for stellar evolution and feedback. The data release includes snapshots of various galaxies, along with accompanying halo catalogs and tools for analyzing the simulations10.
Conclusion
The concept of "zooming the universe" provides a fascinating way to explore the universe at different scales, from the macroscopic to the microscopic. Through films, virtual reality applications, and advanced simulation techniques, we can gain a deeper understanding of the universe's structure and the processes that govern its evolution.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
The Zoomable Universe.
The Zoomable Universe explores the atoms in trilobite shells, dark matter and dark energy, and life emerging from interactions among molecular structures, DNA and RNA.
Zoom!
Three-dimensional genome sequencing allows us to explore the folds of the human genome, revealing structures and functions previously unobserved.
Orders of Magnitude: An immersive educational virtual reality application about the Universe
Orders of Magnitude is an immersive educational virtual reality application that allows users to explore the universe's scales and discover scientifically accurate information about various elements.
GenetIC—A New Initial Conditions Generator to Support Genetically Modified Zoom Simulations
GenetIC allows precise user-specified modifications to cosmological N-body simulations, enabling subpercent precision modifications for galaxy formation applications.
Cosmic Zoom, Powers of Ten and the Contested Politics of Sense
Powers of Ten and Cosmic Zoom show significant stylistic differences, suggesting divergent ontological, epistemological, and political commitments, with objectivity in Powers of Ten and subjectivity in Cosmic Zoom.
THE AGORA HIGH-RESOLUTION GALAXY SIMULATIONS COMPARISON PROJECT. II. ISOLATED DISK TEST
High-resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations can produce robust and reproducible results when tested using common parameters and calibration steps.
Highly CitedUniverseMachine: Predicting Galaxy Star Formation over Seven Decades of Halo Mass with Zoom-in Simulations
The UniverseMachine model predicts star formation in ultrafaint dwarf galaxies, but needs improvements to fully capture galaxy quenching physics at low mass.
Scale†
Scale is a key concept in film and digital media, influencing narrative structure and highlighting the importance of human existence in the universe.
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