Nuara encapsulates our fervor for space, our thirst for knowledge, and our hope to inspire others to dream big.

BRAINSTORMING

As a diverse team, we coined the name Nuara by blending the Spanish words “Nu”, derived from “Nuestro”, and “Ara”, meaning altar or sacred place in the sky. Additionally, Ara is an austral constellation positioned between Scorpius and Triangulum Australe.

In terms of thematic selection, we recognized that a straightforward, constantly evolving game would be effective in crafting the exoplanet and providing the user the chance to progress through the narrative of bioastronomical discoveries.

CHARACTERIZATION

Collectively, we agreed that having an astronaut as the protagonist would make the gameplay more immersive. It was also determined that this lead character should have a guiding figure, allowing interaction in the storyline, assisting in learning about Nuara.

Life in Nuara: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10hPnzss3nNTlHNVtQI1UWmu4YfCXUzNAOx1zeNBqtrU/edit?usp=sharing

The application runs on computational devices, inviting players to embark on an exoplanetary expedition. The trajectory of the protagonist's narrative unveils the exoplanet's attributes.

Nuara begins with a pixel art representation of the habitable exoplanet we have designed. To start the adventure, the user must press "play." Next, instructions are provided on how to move and interact within the game. The main objective is to gather all the available information about this exoplanet, which is achieved by interacting with "robots" that humans sent to investigate the place millennia ago. Upon collecting all the information, the player wins. Throughout this journey, the essential elements for life on a planet are explored, allowing the player to appreciate the wonderful complexity of our own home called Earth.

Nuara is a project where we've crafted a video game tailored for individuals aged 12 and up, aiming to ignite a passion for astronomy, astrophysics, and various cosmic explorations. The game's mission is to provide players with a glimpse into life on a habitable exoplanet, sparking that innate human curiosity that's led to monumental achievements, such as landing on the Moon. In this game, you're the trailblazer, venturing into uncharted territories and unraveling the universe's mysteries. Let's go!

Nuara educates users about the features making our exoplanet habitable. This interactive learning occurs through the story mode, narrating the astronaut's arrival and adventures on Nuara, accompanied by explanations from the robot guide found on the planet. Players use keyboard arrows to navigate the exoplanet's map.

BENEFITS:

Interactive Education: As an educational video game, Nuara offers a stage for users to understand what an exoplanet is and delve deep into astrobiology, planetary habitability, and astronomy in an engaging manner.
Stoking Scientific Curiosity: By letting users explore Nuara, we cultivate curiosity and kindle interest in space sciences.
Tech Innovation: Integrating tools like Game Maker and Blender showcases a novel melding of tech to deliver top-tier user experiences.
Promoting STEM careers: By presenting scientific concepts appealingly, we might inspire youth to ponder STEM careers.
Collaboration & Community: Rooted in factual scientific data, there are avenues for collaborations with educational entities, observatories, and space enthusiasts.

WHAT DO WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

Ongoing Updates & Expansion: Given the rapid progress in space research and exoplanet discoveries, Nuara can be continuously updated, integrating new game levels with fresh data and features, ensuring it remains relevant and ever-evolving.
Educational Expansion: We anticipate Nuara to grow and branch out, incorporating more interactive lessons and educational modules, covering a broader range of scientific concepts related to exoplanet astrobiology and cosmology.
Accessibility: If Nuara is developed cross-platform, it can cater to a vast audience, from classroom students to at-home science enthusiasts.
Integration of Virtual/Augmented Reality: With advancing technology, there's potential to merge Nuara with VR or AR systems, offering an even deeper immersive experience.

CODING PLATFORMS

GameMaker: Through this platform, the design and interactions of the exoplanet were developed using level editors and sprites. The educational components and interactive lessons were combined using the DnD or GML system, creating interactive learning modules on the habitability of the Nuara.

DESIGN TOOLS

Pixel Planet Generator: This platform was the instrumental tool in creating Nuara’s vivid image to leverage sophisticated custom design techniques based on pre-set data and parameters.

The lush greens and deep blues suggest vast expanses of liquid water and thriving vegetation on the planet. In astrobiology, the presence of liquid water stands as a paramount indicator for potential life. Meanwhile, the rich oranges and browns pinpoint arid regions, deserts teeming with iron and essential minerals. Lastly, the wisps of white signal the presence of clouds or perhaps ice formations in Nuara's higher altitudes or polar regions. These cloud patterns play a pivotal role in climate regulation, reflecting sunlight and preserving heat.

These colors offer a window into not just its geographic and geologic facets but also its potential to harbor life. This positions Nuara as a beacon of interest in the realms of astrobiology and space exploration. Supported by robust scientific data, Nuara stands as a compelling contender for extraterrestrial habitability. Such insights, while teeming with technical depth, are presented to captivate and pique the reader's intrigue, ensuring they remain enthralled with the wonders of Nuara.

Blender: For this project, this tool was instrumental in illustrating the landscape of Nuara, capturing its geological and geographical nuances. Conveying the vibrant essence of Nuara required a blend of precision and artistry, and with Blender's capabilities, we were able to achieve a detailed and immersive visualization. This depiction not only showcases the planet's features but also accentuates its potential in the cosmic tapestry.

3D Model: https://youtu.be/po4gYgVk-ME

NASA DIGITAL RESOURCES

The Search For Life - Expoplanet Exploration: This resource provided invaluable insights into the quest for life on exoplanets and the definition of the "habitable zone." It was instrumental in determining the ideal conditions under which Nuara could support life, ensuring it resides within the habitable zone of its host star, Xibalbá (a K star).

Image credit: NASA

What is an Exoplanet? - Expoplanet Exploration: This tool assisted in defining and understanding what an exoplanet is. It shed light on how to detect them and the traits they might possess. It laid the foundational knowledge for Nuara's conceptual design.
Machine Learning in the Search for Agnostic Biosignatures: Inspired by this source, the game incorporated the idea of using biochemical signatures to pinpoint life on Nuara and how cutting-edge tech, like machine learning, can aid in this pursuit.
The Andromeda Galaxy - NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center: Though Nuara is situated in the Andromeda Galaxy, this asset offered both a visual and theoretical grasp of the galaxy, aiding in contextualizing the celestial environment wherein Nuara resides.
Exoplanet Exploration Planets Beyond Our Solar System: This NASA resource served as a general muse for the project, furnishing details about the spectrum of discovered exoplanets and their unique attributes.

Image credit: NASA

Canada's NIRISS reveals steamy atmosphere of distant planet: Leveraging this intel, Nuara's atmosphere was conceptualized, mulling over how exoplanetary atmospheres are detected and researched, and how these impact the prospects of life.
La Magnetosfera: This NASA reference furnished insights on the magnetosphere's significance in shielding planets from harmful solar radiations. It was deployed to define and elucidate Nuara's robust magnetosphere and its contribution to its habitability.
Exoplanets - The European Space Agency: Complementing NASA's data, this asset provided a more holistic perspective on exoplanets and their study. It shaped the overarching vision of the project and integrated international data and theories.
Through these resources, the Nuara project seamlessly blended accurate, real-world scientific data with gaming and interactivity elements, forging an educational yet captivating experience for users.

Image credit: NASA - The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

2023 NASA Space Apps Challenge

Nuara