Uploaded May 2014 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago

---

The simulation, called the Illustris, begins just 12 million years after the Big Bang and illustrates the formation of stars, heavy elements, galaxies, exploding super novae and dark matter over 14 billion years.

Read the full story here: discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/evolution-of-the-universe-revealed-in-computer-simulation

—

Courtesy: Illustris Collective
Vogelsberger, M., Genel, S., Springel, V. et al. Properties of galaxies reproduced by a hydrodynamic simulation. Nature 509, 177–182 (2014) doi:10.1038/nature13316

—

ABOUT DISCOVER:
Discover is your source for science that matters, makes sense and is a lot of fun, too.
Visit us at: discovermagazine.com

FOLLOW US:
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverMag
Twitter: twitter.com/DiscoverMag
Instagram: instagram.com/discover.magazine

SUPPORT US:
Subscribe to Discover: bit.ly/34seAFT
Sign up for our newsletter: discovermagazine.com/newsletter-signup
My Science Shop: myscienceshop.com

STAY CURIOUS!