We talked, not long ago, about how relatively rough simulations of the largest constituents of our universe can help us understand galaxy formation and evolution, how galaxies cluster together, and many other large-scale features of the known universe. But how do computer simulations incorporate things like dark matter and dark energy—which we know must be there and accounted for in our more and more accurate models, though we don’t quite know yet what they are? How can simulations be used as models of the observable universe, and provide testable insight? And how can we simulate the mutual interactions of billions of celestial objects, each attracting each other, and clustering and orbiting in many different ways, a problem mathematically unsolvable? An interesting article in the computing science section of the January-February issue of American Scientist offers an overview of the singular challenges associated with re-creating the universe in a box, and how this whole process represents a brilliant example of the scientific method in action in the digital era. Brian Hayes, “A Box of Universe”, American Scientist
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We talked, not long ago, about how relatively rough simulations of the largest constituents of our universe can help us understand galaxy formation and evolution, how galaxies cluster together, and many other large-scale features of the known universe. But how do computer simulations incorporate things like dark matter and dark energy—which we know must be there and accounted for in our more and more accurate models, though we don’t quite know yet what they are? How can simulations be used as models of the observable universe, and provide testable insight? And how can we simulate the mutual interactions of billions of celestial objects, each attracting each other, and clustering and orbiting in many different ways, a problem mathematically unsolvable? An interesting article in the computing science section of the January-February issue of American Scientist offers an overview of the singular challenges associated with re-creating the universe in a box, and how this whole process represents a brilliant example of the scientific method in action in the digital era.

Brian Hayes, “A Box of Universe”, American Scientist

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  1. scientificbritain posted this