SHOCKING: Scientists unveil mysteries of hidden dark universe, 3D maps shed light on...

A new breakthrough in analyzing galaxy data could soon unlock hidden information about the universe, thanks to a fresh method that preserves the three-dimensional structure of galaxy maps. This could help us better understand the "dark universe," which includes dark matter and dark energy, and even challenge our current model of cosmology.

Led by astronomer Minh Nguyen from the University of Tokyo, this research uses advanced computer algorithms to compare the positions of galaxies in a 3D map with simulations that show how galaxies and dark matter halos should behave. In the past, astronomers used two-dimensional methods to study galaxy distributions by looking at photographic images. This method gave us some answers, like how galaxies are positioned relative to each other, but it missed out on much-needed detail.

Today, scientists use a more advanced approach called multi-object spectroscopy, which measures the redshift of galaxies. This helps determine their distance in an expanding universe, allowing researchers to create three-dimensional maps of the cosmos. However, analyzing this 3D data has been a challenge due to the immense computational power required. To handle this, data was often compressed into simpler formats, such as "n-point correlation functions," which analyze the relationship between two or three points at a time. Although efficient, this compression leads to vital information being lost or hidden.

Nguyen's team has developed a technique called "field-level inference" (FLI), paired with a framework called "LEFTfield." This method works directly with the full 3D map of galaxies, represented as voxels (3D pixels). FLI predicts how galaxies and dark matter should appear based on the standard cosmological model, then compares these predictions with the observed galaxy positions. The results show a significant improvement in accuracy—between three and five times more detailed than traditional methods. This suggests that the old approach was indeed hiding important data.

FLI's newfound accuracy could offer insights into large-scale structures in the universe, like galaxy clusters, which formed from tiny fluctuations in the early universe. These fluctuations might show asymmetries or anomalies that could reveal more about dark matter, gravity, and how galaxies evolved.

The next step for this research is testing FLI with real data from major instruments like the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, Subaru Prime Focus Spectrograph, and future space missions such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The ability to map the distribution of dark matter is especially valuable, as we can't observe it directly, but these methods may offer clues that will help unravel the mysteries of the universe.

This groundbreaking research, published in Physical Review Letters on November 27, 2024, could ultimately transform our understanding of the cosmos, from the origins of galaxies to the invisible forces shaping them.