The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has partnered with the University of Cambridge to create ANDES, a high precision spectrograph.

ANDES, also known as the ArmazoNes high Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph, will be used with ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in Chile.

The spectrograph aims to search for signs of life on exoplanets, study the early universe, test fundamental physics constants, and measure the universe's expansion.

The project is led by Professor Roberto Maiolino and has the potential to make groundbreaking discoveries, including detecting chemical signatures of alien life and studying the first generation of stars.

The timeline for ANDES is currently uncertain due to delays in the construction of the ELT.

Project scientist Marconi Céline Péroux emphasizes the instrument's potential for significantly expanding our understanding of the universe.