Scientists make largest 3D map of the universe to date

Earth is at the centre of this map which shows more than 6 million galaxies

Thousands of tiny robots have helped scientists create the largest-ever 3D map of the universe.

The universe is expanding all the time and this map measures how fast it's grown over 11 billion years.

A team of researchers from around the world, including the UK, gathered precise measurements to show the cosmos as it was billions of years ago and what it is today.

Scientists have described the findings as "hugely exciting".

Scientists took precise measurements with a Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (Desi) to create the map which uses 5,000 tiny robots.

The measurements are made using light from distant objects in space.

They wanted to study and measure the effects of dark energy which is believed to be what makes the universe grow faster and faster.

Dr Seshadri Nadathur, from the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth, who led parts of the analysis, said:

"These results are very exciting" and may be "telling us something important about dark energy."

"It is too early to give a definitive answer just yet, but we've only analysed a small part of the Desi dataset so far," he added.

Scientists will continue to collect data from Desi and hope it furthers our understanding about space.