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TheMacroSift (RC) @themacrosift on x 9406 followers
Created: 2025-07-21 19:14:32 UTC
🔎 Astronomers capture first direct image of the "cosmic web" that binds the Universe
• First-ever direct image of a cosmic filament Astronomers using the MUSE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope have captured the first high-definition image of a cosmic web filament—an intergalactic hydrogen bridge approximately X million light‑years long connecting two quasars about XX billion light-years away .
• Illuminating galaxy growth pathways This filament vividly demonstrates gas flowing along gravitational “highways,” fueling galaxies by transporting hydrogen into their circumgalactic zones—directly confirming a key prediction of cold dark matter cosmology .
• Breakthrough enabled by patient observation The detection required over XXX hours of cumulative exposure across several observing campaigns. MUSE’s pixel‑by‑pixel spectral mapping was crucial to disentangle the extremely faint hydrogen emission from background noise.
• Model‑observation harmony When compared with supercomputer simulations (from Max Planck Institute), the filament’s observed brightness and structure match remarkably well—offering compelling validation of models on dark matter distribution and gas dynamics.
• Foundation for cosmic cartography While dubbed “Eine ist keine” (one doesn’t count), this first filament opens the door to broader surveys. Future instruments like the Extremely Large Telescope aim to map the cosmic web in detail—tightening constraints on dark matter physics and galaxy evolution.
XXX engagements
