This simulation represents a simple model of the universe at an age of 13.8 billion years, encompassing a vast region measuring 100 MPC. The simulation focuses on the cosmic web, the large-scale structure of the universe, which is shaped by the interplay of gravity on both normal matter and dark matter.
In this visualization, the yellow regions depict normal matter, while the purple regions represent dark matter. The cosmic web emerges as an intricate network of filaments, voids, and clusters. Dark matter forms the backbone of this structure, providing the gravitational pull necessary for normal matter to accumulate and form galaxies and other cosmic structures.
The goal of this simulation is to explore how gravitational forces influence the distribution and evolution of matter in the universe over cosmic time. By modeling these processes, the simulation helps to shed light on the formation of large-scale cosmic structures and provides insights into the fundamental nature of dark matter, which remains one of the most significant mysteries in modern astrophysics.
This cosmic web simulation stands as a simple tool for understanding the universe’s past, present, and future, offering kind of a window into the processes that have shaped the cosmos from its earliest moments to the large-scale structures we observe today.
Without dark matter, the universe would not look so structured and the cosmic web would not exist.