When you look at the model on the
computer, you see the 3D model.
You cannot touch it. The mouse is here and the model is there. There is a disconnection
between the model and the interaction.
3D-Printing gives us this extra sense.
I'm trying to understand how galaxies are related to the cosmic web. Galaxies are not isolated
objects. They are connected through filaments of gas and matter. This gas is injected inside
the galaxies through filaments. We see
these galaxies forming stars very early.
They are forming many stars. And then
suddenly, they stop forming the stars.
But we don't know how this happens exactly. I want to identify structures in time. It is very
difficult to do this in the computer. With the 3D-printing, I can actually take my
galaxy and manipulate the object.
I can look around much easier and much
faster than in the computer. By printing this object in which you have X, Y and time going up,
I could see that a cluster will be
a sphere, is like a worm for four dimensions. I
can see, "Oh yeah, there are some filaments that are actually twisting as they
enter the galaxy," something that I didn't know before. 3D-printing can help us make a physical
map of our universe. You could actually
take your model and see the position of the Milky Way, all
the structures around us. This is what 3D-printing gives you. This gives you this extra insight. And it's
really, it's almost magical
