Astronomers have embarked on a groundbreaking journey into the cosmos through the most extensive supercomputer simulations to date, spanning from the inception of the universe with the Big Bang to the present day. Their mission? to solve the deepest mysteries of the cosmos.
The primary objective of this grand endeavor is to compare the virtual universe created through these simulations with the tangible reality, including the freshest insights gathered by high-powered telescopes. Surprisingly, there have been instances where the observed data doesn’t align perfectly with our expectations.
This ambitious project, aptly named Flamingo, meticulously computed the evolution of every universe component, from the commonplace matter to the enigmatic dark matter and elusive dark energy, all governed by the fundamental laws of physics.
As these simulations advance, they reveal intricate virtual galaxies and clusters of galaxies, mirroring the cosmic marvels we observe in the night sky. Instruments like the recently launched Euclid Space Telescope by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA‘s James Webb Space Telescope continuously collect data on galaxies, quasars, and stars.
Flamingo research collaborator Professor Carlos Frenk from Durham University remarked, “Cosmology is at a crossroads. We have astonishing new data from potent telescopes, some of which initially defy our theoretical expectations. Either the standard model of cosmology is incomplete, or there may exist subtle biases in our observational data. Our exquisitely precise universe simulations hold the key to resolving this conundrum.”
Traditionally, previous simulations that compared to real-world observations concentrated on cold dark matter, believed to be a vital component shaping the cosmos. However, contemporary astronomers stress the importance of factoring in the influence of ordinary matter, constituting a mere 16% of all matter in the universe, and the nearly ethereal neutrinos—tiny particles scarcely interacting with normal matter—when endeavoring to comprehend the universe’s evolution.
For the past two years, researchers have tirelessly conducted these simulations utilizing a formidable supercomputer housed at Durham University. This monumental effort demanded over 50 million processor hours on the formidable Cosmology Machine (COSMA 8) supercomputer, hosted by the Institute for Computational Cosmology in Durham, acting on behalf of the UK’s DiRAC High-Performance Computing facility.
Under the Virgo Consortium, Flamingo is a cosmological supercomputer simulation project that stands for “full-hydro large-scale structure simulations with all-sky mapping for the interpretation of next-generation observations.”
Generous funding for this monumental undertaking was provided by the European Research Council, the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
This groundbreaking research has been documented in the prestigious journal “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.” Get ready for a new era in our understanding of the cosmos, as the Flamingo project unveils the secrets of the universe.
