This 18-Year-Old Managed to Recreate the Universe in Minecraft

The unknown qualities of Space. There is much to discover and so many explanations that will make us feel as small as ever. It’s also very pretty to look at, right? Well, that photo you just saw is not the actual universe. Yes, you read that right! An 18-year-old actually recreated the universe in Minecraft and it looks eerily real.

How He Recreated the Universe in Minecraft

Christopher Slayton, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate, decided to tackle the overwhelming expansiveness of the universe uniquely by recreating it in the virtual realm of Minecraft. Over nearly two months, Slayton delved into extensive research on cosmic structures, exploring black holes, scrutinizing the diverse hues of Saturn’s rings, and studying images of Earth.

Employing the virtual cubes that constitute the Minecraft gaming world, Slayton meticulously constructed the universe, block by block, on his computer. This ambitious project was not kept under wraps; rather, he documented the entire process on his YouTube channel, where he goes by the username “Chris DaCow.” The venture gained widespread attention when Slayton shared details of the building process on a viral Reddit thread.

What Inspired Him?

After successfully recreating the universe in Minecraft, Christopher Slayton reflects on the profound beauty of the cosmos. During the project, he blended hands-on experiences with viral video content. Before reconstructing Earth, the initial celestial body he built, Slayton embarked on a skydiving adventure to gain a deeper appreciation for the planet. Documenting the entire process on his YouTube channel, he used a globe for reference and meticulously measured the continents’ locations to ensure accuracy in his to-scale block Earth. Slayton then extended his efforts to craft each planet in our solar system.

In his quest to replicate celestial bodies in Minecraft, Christopher Slayton employed the “brightest blocks in Minecraft” for the sun, adding solar flares to imbue the star with a lively, fiery essence. Transitioning to the creation of a galaxy cluster, Slayton and a friend hiked to the summit of a mountain, where they set up a telescope to observe real-world collections of stars, gas, dust, and planets. This firsthand experience served as a foundation for his meticulous recreation of these cosmic phenomena in the virtual realm.

Black Holes and Sunny Suns

Within his expansive model universe in Minecraft, Christopher Slayton took on the challenge of recreating various cosmic wonders. Drawing inspiration from the 2014 movie Interstellar, he meticulously crafted a black hole. Additionally, he replicated the distinctive plumes of gas and dust found in the Eagle Nebula’s Pillars of Creation. In a culmination of his efforts, Slayton fashioned a spherical, web-like structure symbolizing the entirety of the universe. To expedite the building process, he utilized various “mods,” or modifications that alter a video game’s structure or code.

Slayton’s ambitious project aligns with a trend among Minecraft players who have undertaken the recreation of both earthly and otherworldly structures. This includes notable examples like Mount Olympus from Greek mythology and Middle-Earth from The Lord of the Rings, as reported by Wired’s Simon Hill last year.

What do you think of his recreation?

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