16 ways technology is mapping the universe The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in northern Chile. Image: European Southern Observatory Each year, we gain a slightly better understanding of the nature of the universe and our place in it. FOR MOST OF US, the mapping technology we use on a daily basis is limited to dash-mounted GPS units. No disrespect — I mean, just 10 years ago we were dependent on hard-copy road atlases to get where we were going; cutting-edge meant route-finding in Mapquest and then printing off the pages. But as you read this, hundreds of teams of scientists are working with vastly more complex technologies to map everything from the far reaches of the universe to the most infinitesimally small particles within it. Just a few weeks ago, astro...