What is the evolution of the cosmic web?
Article Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Why you should care
The cosmic web is a vast network of galaxies, dark matter, and gas that forms the large-scale structure of the universe. Understanding its evolution offers insights into the forces shaping the cosmos, from the Big Bang to the intricate galaxy clusters we observe today. This knowledge connects the dots between our universe’s origins and its current state.
Answering the question… What is the evolution of the cosmic web?
The cosmic web evolved over billions of years as gravity pulled matter into dense regions, forming a web-like structure of filaments, voids, and clusters. Early density fluctuations expanded after the Big Bang, leading to the collapse of dark matter and gas into the web. Observations and simulations reveal that the web has grown from tiny irregularities into a vast, intricate network spanning over 100 billion light-years.
How was the study done?
Researchers used large-scale simulations and data from telescopes to model the growth of the cosmic web. By analyzing cosmic microwave background radiation and comparing it to galaxy distributions, scientists tracked how dark matter and ordinary matter interact to form the web’s filaments and nodes. Simulations like the Millennium Simulation provided a detailed timeline of its development.
What was discovered?
- The cosmic web spans more than 100 billion light-years, connecting galaxies with filaments of gas and dark matter.
- Its evolution started 13.8 billion years ago, with density fluctuations in the early universe seeding the structure.
- Over 68% of the web's mass is dark energy, while dark matter forms its scaffolding.
- Filaments are home to star-forming gas, where galaxies form and grow.
- Voids, the empty regions, cover about 80% of the web but hold minimal matter.
- The web’s growth slowed over the past 5 billion years due to dark energy accelerating cosmic expansion.
Why does it matter?
The cosmic web is the universe's skeleton, dictating where galaxies and stars form. Its study helps us understand dark matter, dark energy, and the forces shaping the cosmos. By exploring its evolution, we unlock clues about the universe's fate, the formation of galaxies, and the distribution of matter and energy across the cosmos.