{"id":6551,"date":"2026-03-30T11:33:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/?p=6551"},"modified":"2026-03-30T11:33:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:33:16","slug":"pale-blue-dots-update-36","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/pale-blue-dots-update-36\/","title":{"rendered":"Pale Blue DOTS | Update 36"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Update-36-Feature-GIF.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6578\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Blast apart rings with lasers, deform moons as they become tidally locked, vaporize meteors, and more! We\u2019ve reconstructed the physics simulation architecture of Universe Sandbox to provide a new base for improving performance, finding and fixing issues faster, and more easily adding new physics features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTo me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we&#8217;ve ever known.\u201d &#8211; Carl Sagan,<em> Pale Blue Dot<\/em>, 1994<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>New Simulation Framework<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/pale-blue-dots-preview-physics-simulation-overhaul\/\">overhauled the physics architecture<\/a> of Universe Sandbox to utilize the <a href=\"https:\/\/unity.com\/dots\">Data-Oriented Technology Stack (DOTS)<\/a> from Unity, the game engine we use to build Universe Sandbox, to<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improve performance now and in the future.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add new physics simulation, like stretched objects and atmospheric drag to simulate meteors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make our game code easier to maintain and build on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide a foundation for future big features, such as building and flying spacecraft and constructing (and destroying) megastructures like Dyson spheres.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Earth-100-Moons.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6560\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Improved Lasers!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Blast multiple objects at once (instead of just one object at a time) with the updated laser! You can even push objects around by increasing light\u2019s radiative pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Laser-Multiple-Earths.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6558\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Update-36-Feature-GIF.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6578\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Atmospheric Fireballs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Objects now burn up as they travel through planet atmospheres with our new atmospheric drag force to simulate meteors. Trails are created as volatile material, like water, is burned off the object. Check it out in our new <strong>Meteor Shower from Earth\u2019s Surface<\/strong> simulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Meteors-Feature-GIF-v1-1.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6557\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>More Highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Objects Stretching &amp; Squishing<br>Simulate the stretching and flattening of objects in real life due to gravity or fast rotation. However, collisions and surface simulation will continue to simulate as perfect spheres even on stretched objects until this is improved in a future update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Deformation-3.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6564\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Customize Heat Glow &amp; Luminosity<br>Want to make a whale glow with the brightness of the Sun? Now you can make any object emit any color light at any brightness, regardless of its temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Universe-Sandbox-20251201-161342-screenshot-650x366.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Universe-Sandbox-20251201-161342-screenshot-650x366.png 650w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Universe-Sandbox-20251201-161342-screenshot-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Universe-Sandbox-20251201-161342-screenshot-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Universe-Sandbox-20251201-161342-screenshot.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Tidal Locking<br>Gravitational interactions that change an orbiting object\u2019s rotational period until the same side of one object always faces the other, as the Earth has done to the Moon, are now simulated. Visualize tidal locking by turning on Tidal Lag in the View panel to see the difference between the object\u2019s orbital and rotational periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Tidal-Locking.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6565\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Lagrange Points<br>Mark the location of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lagrange_point\">Lagrange points<\/a>, points where the gravitational forces between all objects in the system are equal, with the press of a button. There\u2019s even a handy Place Object at Lagrange Point option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Lagrange-Points.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6566\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Predicted paths<br>See the path an object will follow as we project its motion into the future. Checking for collisions along the way, this path will turn from yellow to red, showing the amount of predicted overlap. Turn on predicted paths under<br><strong>View &gt; Overlays &gt; Predicted Paths<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Predicted-Paths-Not-Running.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6568\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Non-spherical Gravitational Fields<br>Similar to flattening objects, we\u2019re now fully simulating how an object\u2019s gravitational field changes when it\u2019s no longer a sphere by simulating its oblateness factor (also called <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Geopotential_spherical_harmonic_model#Largest_terms\">J2<\/a>). Previously, these factors, used to simulate the orbits of sun-synchronous satellites, had to be manually entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Non-Spherical-Gravity.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6571\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>New Add Tool Views<br>Automatically turn on orbits, the simulation grid, or show the habitable zone with the Add Tool View options as you add objects to your simulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Add-Tool-View-Options-650x366.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Add-Tool-View-Options-650x366.png 650w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Add-Tool-View-Options-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Add-Tool-View-Options-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Add-Tool-View-Options.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>New Overlays<br>Use the new overlay options to easily see the predicted path an object will take, the orientation of its axes in the simulation, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Overlays-650x366.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Overlays-650x366.png 650w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Overlays-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Overlays-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Overlays.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>New Save File Structure<br>Simulation and object save files are now more versatile and capable. In the future, you\u2019ll be able to save and share custom presets (like individual species of life). Previously saved simulations and objects will still open, but new saves will not work in old versions of Universe Sandbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Number Formatting<br>Show large numbers with commas, periods, half-spaces, or without separators. The initial number format will correspond to the selected language and can be adjusted under<br><strong>Home &gt; Settings &gt; General &gt; Number Formatting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"520\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Number-Formatting.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Number-Formatting.png 520w, https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Number-Formatting-300x151.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/universesandbox.com\/whatsnew\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"http:\/\/universesandbox.com\/whatsnew\">Check out the full list of What&#8217;s New in Update 36<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please report any issues on our <a href=\"http:\/\/steamcommunity.com\/app\/230290\/discussions\/1\/\">Steam forum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/us\">on Discord<\/a>, or in-game via Home &gt; Send Feedback.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blast apart rings with lasers, deform moons as they become tidally locked, vaporize meteors, and more! We\u2019ve reconstructed the physics simulation architecture of Universe Sandbox to provide a new base for improving performance, finding and fixing issues faster, and more easily adding new physics features.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":6580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-development"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6551"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6583,"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6551\/revisions\/6583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universesandbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}