Advancements in Simulating the Universe Uncover Cosmological Shortcomings

The largest-ever computer simulation of the universe, carried out by the FLAMINGO project, reveals discrepancies in the distribution of matter in the cosmos. While previous simulations only considered dark matter, this new work also tracks ordinary matter. However, even with the inclusion of ordinary matter and extreme galactic winds, the simulation fails to explain the weak clumping of matter observed in the present-day universe. This suggests potential shortcomings in the standard model of cosmology or even the standard model of physics. The simulation may help identify errors in current measurements and could point to exotic properties of dark matter or a breakdown of our theory of gravity on the largest scales.