Meet the UW-Madison professor mapping the universe for the 'greatest cosmic movie ever made'

kAmu@C E96 A2DE 564256[ 6G6? 367@C6 2CC:G:?8 2E &(\|25:D@? :? a_`g[ q649E@= 92D 925 9:D 6J6D @? E96 D<:6D — =:E6C2==J 2?5 7:8FC2E:G6=J — 2D A2CE @7 2 E62> @7 E9@FD2?5D H9@ 92G6 H@C<65 E@ 86E E96 '6C2 #F3:? ~3D6CG2E@CJ 2?5 :ED b[a__\>682A:I6= 42>6C2[ E96 $:>@?J: $FCG6J %6=6D4@A6[ 3F:=E] xE E@H6CD `g DE@C:6D E2== :? E96 C6>@E6DE @7 =@42E:@?D 2E@A E96 p?56D |@F?E2:?D :? r9:=6]k^Am

kAmp?5 7@C E96 ?6IE 564256[ q649E@= 2?5 9:D 76==@H D4:6?E:DED 9@A6 E96J 42? =62C? >@C6 23@FE E96 F?:G6CD6 E92? 2== @7 D4:6?E:7:4 AC@8C6DD 92D 2==@H65 :? E96 =2DE a__ J62CD E9C@F89 E96 {6824J $FCG6J @7 $A246 2?5 %:>6]k^Am

kAmq649E@= 92D 366? :? 492C86 @7 2DD6>3=:?8 2== @7 E96 A:646D ?66565 E@ >2<6 E96 E6=6D4@A6 H@C< 2=@?8D:56 E96 #F3:? ~3D6CG2E@CJ’D DJDE6>D 6?8:?66C:?8 E62>]k^Am

kAm“xE’5 36 =:<6 :7 J@F 925 2 H9@=6 4@==64E:@? @7 >FD:42= :?DECF>6?ED[ 3FE E92E H@F=5?’E 36 2 DJ>A9@?J[ C:89En *@F H@F=5[ J@F’5 ?665 2== @7 E96 :?DECF>6?ED[ J@F’5 ?665 2== @7 E96 >FD:4:2?D[ J@F H@F=5 ?665 E96 D4@C6[ D966E >FD:4] *@F ?665 E96 4@?5F4E@C[ J@F ?665 E96> AC24E:4:?8 E@86E96C[” q649E@= D2:5] “%92E’D H92E H6’C6 5@:?8 5FC:?8 4@>>:DD:@?:?8[ :D 3C:?8:?8 2== @7 E9@D6 A:646D E@86E96C H@C<:?8 E@H2C5D E92E 4@>>@? AFCA@D6]”k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_44hh`dg\4dbd\``66\hc55\5b3hh`d5_edhQm&(\|25:D@? 3@E2?J AC@76DD@C :D 3C62<:?8 ?6H 8C@F?5 :? E96 D4:6?46 @7 DA246 82C56?:?8k^2mk^Am

kAm%96C6’== 36 ?@ D9@CE286 @7 52E2 7C@> E96 E6=6D4@A6 — 6G6CJ 76H ?:89ED[ 7@C E96 ?6IE `_ J62CD[ E96 42>6C2 :?D:56 H:== D42? E96 ?:89E D<J[ E2<:?8 2 ?6H 6IA@DFC6 6G6CJ c_ D64@?5D] %96 42>6C2[ 23@FE E96 D:K6 @7 2 D>2== 42C 3FE EH:46 2D 962GJ[ H:== 42AEFC6 23@FE a_ E6C23JE6D @7 7@@E286 6249 ?:89E[ a_ E@ g_ E:>6D E96 D:K6 @7 2? 2G6C286 =2AE@A’D DE@C286 42A24:EJ]k^Am

kAm$4:6?E:DED 6IA64E E92E >@C6 E92? `_ 3:==:@? @3;64ED :? E96 F?:G6CD6[ D@>6 @7 H9:49 H:== 36 D66? 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ H:== 36 A9@E@8C2A965 g__ E:>6D :? E92E E:>6 DA2?]k^Am

kAm%96 7:CDE :>286D 42AEFC65 H6C6 C6=62D65 |@?52J[ :? >:4C@D4@A:4 A@CE:@?D — 2 C68F=2C 4@>AFE6C D4C66? 5@6D ?@E 92G6 E96 A:I6=2E:@? C6BF:C65 E@ 5:DA=2J E96 :>286D :? E96:C 7F== 56E2:=[ 2?5 E96 9F>2? 6J6 42?’E 4@>AC696?5 :E] $9@H:?8 E96 @3D6CG2E@CJ’D 7F== 42AEFC6 @7 E96 ?:89E D<J 7C@> @?6 ?:89E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 c__ 9:89\567:?:E:@? %'D 2CC2?865 E@ 4@G6C 2? 2C62 E96 D:K6 @7 2 32D<6E32== 4@FCE]k^Am

kAm%96 52E2 23@FE E96 F?:G6CD6 E92E E96 E6=6D4@A6 H:== 36 23=6 E@ 42AEFC6 H:== 36 2 72C 4CJ 7C@> H92E q649E@= H2E4965 @? E96 !q$ “}@G2” D9@H E92E 96=A65 DA2C< 9:D =@G6 7@C E96 4@D>@D — 2?5 7@C D4:6?46]k^Am

kAmt?8:?66C:?8 :D AC24E:42==J H@G6? :?E@ E96 p=6I2?5C:2[ ':C8:?:2[ ?2E:G6’D s}p] w:D 8C2?572E96C 56G6=@A65 9:89\DA665 42>6C2D H9:=6 :? E96 >:=:E2CJ[ 2?5 9:D 525 H2D 2? 6=64EC:42= 6?8:?66C] q649E@=’D A2C6?ED 6?4@FC2865 9:D 5C62> E@ 36 2 D4:6?E:DE — ;FDE 2 76H H66<D 28@[ 2 32D6>6?E 4=62?:?8 AC@;64E 3642>6 2 H2=< 5@H? >6>@CJ =2?6 27E6C 9:D A2C6?ED 7@F?5 9:D D4:6?46 72:C AC@;64ED]k^Am

kAm%92E =@G6 @7 D4:6?46[ G6CDFD 2?J 4@>A6E:?8 27764E:@? 7@C D=66A[ :D 567:?:E6=J 36:?8 E6DE65] uC@> 9:D 32D6>6?E “4@>>2?5 46?E6C[” q649E@= >@?:E@CD E96 @3D6CG2E@CJ :? r9:=6 5FC:?8 E96 62C=J >@C?:?8 9@FCD[ 86EE:?8 FA 2C@F?5 cib_ 2]>] s2E2 4@==64E:@? H:== 364@>6 >@C6 2FE@>2E65 :? E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9D — 2?5 q649E@= H:== 86E >@C6 C68F=2C D=66A — 2D E96 <:?<D 86E :C@?65 @FE]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92E >2<6D E9:D E96 “8C62E6DE 4@D>:4 >@G:6 6G6C >256n”k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmxE’D E96 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 E96 56AE9 @7 E96 :>286D[ 32D:42==J E96 D6?D:E:G:EJ @7 G6CJ 72:?E DE2CD 2?5 82=2I:6D E92E H6 42? D66] xE’D E96 :?4C65:3=6 7:6=5 @7 G:6H] xE’D D@ =2C86 — H6 42? D66 D@ >F49 @7 E96 D<J 2E @?6 E:>6] xE’D E96 4@>A24E?6DD @7 E96 @AE:42= 56D:8? @7 E96 E6=6D4@A6[ E96 5C:G6D E92E 2==@H FD E@ D42? E96 D<J G6CJ BF:4<=J] xE’D E96 6?@C>@FD ?F>36C @7 A:I6=D @? E96 7@42= A=2?6 E92E 2==@H FD E@ 92G6 E96D6 G6CJ 9:89\567:?:E:@? :>286D] xE’D 2== @7 E96 @AE:4D E92E 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@86E96C E@ AC@5F46 DF49 4C:DA[ DF49 D92CA :>286D[ E96 724E E92E E96 42>6C2 92D D:I 5:776C6?E 7:=E6CD E92E 2==@H FD E@ 4C62E6 4@=@C :>286D] $@ :E’D E9:D 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 D6?D:E:G:EJ[ @7 DA665[ @7 4@=@C E92E 2==@HD FD E@ >2A E96 D<J 23@FE 2 724E@C @7 `_ E:>6D 72DE6C E92? 2?J AC6G:@FD 4@>A2C23=6 724:=:EJ 7@C 2DEC@?@>J]k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^66hda`5h\h55`\d_f5\3b3_\3fe_ded`b_fcQm&(\|25:D@? AC@76DD@C 4C62E6D 366E E92E 24EF2==J E2DE6D 8@@5k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(9J :D :E D@ :>A@CE2?E 7@C FD E@ D42? E96 4@D>@D E9:D H2Jnk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96C6’D ;FDE D@>6E9:?8 23@FE 9F>2?D E92E H6 92G6 925 E9:D 4FC:@D:EJ 23@FE ?2EFC6] p?5 6G6CJ E:>6 H6 92G6 366? 23=6 E@ =@@< 2E ?2EFC6 :? ?6H H2JD — H96E96C E92E’D 366? H:E9 >:4C@D4@A6D @C E6=6D4@A6D @C A2CE:4=6 4@==:56CD — H6’G6 366? 23=6 E@ =@@< 2E E96 F?:G6CD6 :? ?6H H2JD[ H6 92G6 =62C?65 >@C6] p?5 A2CE:4F=2C=J H96? J@F =@@< 2E E96D6 :>286D[ x ;FDE D66 E9:D :?4C65:3=6 G2DE?6DD] xE’D ;FDE D@ 9F>3=:?8[ :? D@>6 H2JD[ E@ D66 ;FDE 9@H >2?J DE2CD 2?5 82=2I:6D] |@DE @7 E96 82=2I:6D E92E J@F D66 :? E96D6 :>286D[ E92E =:89E H2D 6>:EE65 367@C6 E96 D@=2C DJDE6> 7@C>65[ =:<6 367@C6 E96C6 H2D E96 $F? 2?5 E96 t2CE9] (6’C6 =@@<:?8 324< :?E@ E96 H9@=6 DH66A @7 4@D>:4 9:DE@CJ]k^Am

kAmt249 @?6 @7 E9@D6 82=2I:6D >2J 92G6 3:==:@?D @7 DE2CD[ 2?5 E9@D6 DE2CD >2J 92G6 A=2?6ED 2?5 >@@?D @C3:E:?8 E96>] xE’D ;FDE <:?5 @7 DE2886C:?8]k^Am

kAmqFE E96? x’5 D2J E96C6’D 2=D@ D@CE @7 2 G6CJ AC28>2E:4 2DA64E @7 :E[ :? E96 D6?D6 E92E E96C6 H:== 36 AC@323=J >2?J E9@FD2?5D @7 DEF56?ED E92E H@C< H:E9 E9:D 52E2[ 2?5 E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E9@D6 DEF56?ED 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 8@ @77 2?5 H@C< :? 2== 5:776C6?E D64E@CD @7 E96 64@?@>J] (92E x ECJ E@ E6== @FC A9JD:4D !9]s] DEF56?ED 96C6 :D E92E H96? J@F 86E 2 A9JD:4D !9]s][ J@F’C6 32D:42==J 86EE:?8 2 568C66 :? 23DEC24E BF2?E:E2E:G6 AC@3=6> D@=G:?8] *@F 2C6 =62C?:?8 E@ E2<6 AC@3=6>D E92E D@F?5 :>A@DD:3=6 E@ 6G6? 2AAC@249 2?5 3C62< E96> 5@H? :?E@ :?5:G:5F2= DE6AD E92E 4@F=5 36 D@=G65] p?5 E92E’D 2? :?4C65:3=J G2=F23=6 D<:== 24C@DD 2== 5:776C6?E 2C62D @7 E96 64@?@>J[ E@ ECJ E@ E24<=6 E96D6 <:?5D @7 :?4C65:3=J 492==6?8:?8 AC@3=6>D H96C6 E96C6 :D?’E 2? 2?DH6C :? E96 324< @7 E96 E6IE3@@<]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92E 42? H6 =62C? 23@FE @FC @H? A=2?6E 3J =@@<:?8 @FE E@ E96 F?:G6CD6nk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm(96? J@F ;FDE =@@< @FE 2E E96 G2DE?6DD @7 E96 F?:G6CD6[ :E’D DE:== AC6EEJ 92C5 E@ 7:?5 2 A=246 =:<6 t2CE9] $@>6E:>6D J@F C625 :? D4:6?46 7:4E:@? @C 6G6? :? E96 A@AF=2C AC6DD :562D @7 “>2J36 H6 D9@F=5 8@ 4@=@?:K6 2?@E96C A=2?6E2CJ DJDE6>]” qFE @?6 @7 E96 E9:?8D E92E x’G6 D@CE @7 2AAC64:2E65 7C@> =@@<:?8 2E DA246 :D E92E C62==J[ E96 t2CE9 :D AC6EEJ 72?E2DE:4] (96? J@F =@@< 2E E96 @E96C @AE:@?D[ :E >2<6D t2CE9 =@@< C62==J[ C62==J 8@@5]k^Am

kAmp?5 D@ ?@E E@ :?;64E >J @H? @A:?:@?[ 3FE x 766= =:<6 E92E’D D@>6E9:?8 E92E H6 D9@F=5 4@?D:56C[ E92E E96C6’D 2 G2=F6 :? D@CE @7 2AAC64:2E:?8 ?2EFC6 2?5 2AAC64:2E:?8 9@H 7@CEF?2E6 H6 2C6 E@ 92G6 2 C62==J ?:46 A=2?6E[ 3642FD6 2 =@E @7 E96 F?:G6CD6 :D ?@E 2D 9@DA:E23=6 7@C 9F>2? =:76 2D :E :D 96C6]k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^6bcee566\5bga\``67\h5f6\5b`agf3gd3h2Qm&(\|25:D@? A2=6@?E@=@8:DE D66<D E@ C6HC:E6 9:DE@CJ[ EC25:E:@?k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m%96C6’D 2 =@E @7 E2=< 23@FE DA246[ DF49 2D 4@=@?:K:?8 |2CD 2?5 DA246 E@FC:D>] w@H 5@6D E92E 4@>>6C4:2= 7@4FD @? DA246 27764E E96 H@C< J@F’C6 5@:?8nk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmx 9@A6 E92E E92E :D :?DA:C2E:@? 7@C >@C6 A6@A=6 E@ 86E 6I4:E65 23@FE D4:6?46[ 2?5 E96 D6?D6 E92E H6’C6 C62==J ;FDE 86EE:?8 DE2CE65] u@C 2== E96 :?4C65:3=6 AC@8C6DD E92E’D 366? >256 @G6C E96 46?EFC:6D[ E96C6’D DE:== C62==J AC@7@F?5 BF6DE:@?D E92E H6’C6 ;FDE 368:??:?8 E@ 36 23=6 E@ 2D< ]]] :? 2 >@C6 AC64:D6 H2J] xE’D ;FDE :? E96 A2DE 4@FA=6 564256D E92E H6’G6 C62==J F?56CDE@@5 >@C6 23@FE E96 H9@=6 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 F?:G6CD6 ]]] 2?5 H6’G6 366? 23=6 E@ =62C? 23@FE E96 F?:G6CD6 @? D@CE @7 E96 >:4C@D4@A:4 D42=6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(96? J@F H6C6 2D<65 H92E J@F H2?E65 E9:D 52E2 E@ 2?DH6C :? `_ J62CD[ J@F AC6EEJ BF:4<=J >6?E:@?65 52C< >2EE6C] (9J :D E92Enk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 82=2I:6D 2D H6 <?@H E96> E@52J H@F=5 ?@E 6I:DE H:E9@FE 52C< >2EE6C] s2C< >2EE6C :D :?G:D:3=6[ 3FE :E 92D 2 8C2G:E2E:@?2= AF==[ =:<6 >2EE6C >256 @FE @7 2E@>D] q2D:42==J[ E96 52C< >2EE6C 3682? E@ 8C2G:E2E:@?2==J 4=FDE6C[ 2?5 :E 3C@F89E :? E96 82D 2?5 E96 5FDE E92E H@F=5 92G6 H@F=5 7@C>65 E96 DE2CD 2?5 E96 82=2I:6D E92E H6 D66] p?5 E92E’D 2 AC@46DD E92E’D 366? A=2J:?8 @FE 7@C 3:==:@?D @7 J62CD]k^Am

kAmx7 H6 42? DEF5J >@C6 23@FE 9@H E96 52C< >2EE6C :D 5:DEC:3FE65[ H6 >:89E 6G6? 36 23=6 E@ 7:?5 C68:@?D @7 DA246 H96C6 J@F 92G6 <:?5 @7 2? @G6C\56?D:EJ @7 52C< >2EE6C[ 3FE :E’D ?@E BF:E6 6?@F89 E@ 24EF2==J 92G6 7@C>65 2 82=2IJ] *@F 32D:42==J =62C? H92E :D E96 >:?:>F> 4@?5:E:@? E@ 92G6 6?@F89 8C2G:E2E:@?2= AF== E@ 24EF2==J 7@C> 2 82=2IJ] ~FC AC6D6?E >@56= @7 4@D>@=@8J 2?5 52C< >2EE6C AC65:4ED E92E E96D6 6I:DE — :? 724E >2?J @7 E96> 6G6? 2C@F?5 E96 |:=<J (2J] p?5 H:E9 #F3:? ~3D6CG2E@CJ[ H6 H@F=5 92G6 2 492?46 @7 7:?5:?8 D@>6 @7 E96D6 52C< >2EE6C @3;64ED[ 2=>@DE =:<6 2 52C< 82=2IJ]k^Am