Dark matter, formed soon after the Big Bang, clumped under gravity, creating filaments connecting galaxies. This cosmic web spans billions of light-years. Voids exist where few galaxies form. Mapping this web shows the universe’s large-scale structure, influenced by primordial fluctuations. The web’s shape encodes information about cosmic expansion and matter composition. Understanding it links the Big Bang’s early chaos to today’s structured cosmos.
It matters because the cosmic web is evidence of primordial fluctuations and structure formation.
It also provides a framework for studying galaxy evolution and dark matter distribution.
Galaxies form an intricate web, tracing the universe’s early blueprint.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory [noao.edu]