The universe is less uniform than we thought – cosmology may need a radical rethink

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Modern cosmology rests on a simple assumption: if we look on large enough scales, matter should be distributed evenly, with no preferred direction within the cosmos. This is known as the cosmological principle.

Now, as new telescopes both on Earth and in space, such as the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) and Euclid, deliver ever more detailed maps of the universe, this assumption can finally be properly tested.

In our new paper, we uncover evidence that the distribution of galaxies does not become uniform on the largest scales we can currently test. Using DESI data, we find directional patterns extending across distances of several billion light years.

If confirmed, our results would force physicists to rethink some basic ideas about the universe, including what dark matter is, and how gravity shapes matter on the largest scales.

Continues of The Conversation