Formation of Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

The podcast explores how our universe evolved from the Big Bang to the formation of large-scale structures. The story begins with the cosmic microwave background (CMB), which shows a uniform and boring universe. However, tiny density variations in the early universe led to temperature fluctuations in the CMB. Gravity then caused these variations to collapse exponentially, forming over-dense regions. The effects of gravity were aided by the lack of pressure in dark matter, contributing to the formation of the universe's first structures. The expansion of the universe and computer simulations also play a role in slowing down and shaping the growth of these structures, called halos. Telescopic observations of cosmic surveys provide evidence that aligns with the predictions made by the theory, confirming our understanding of the universe's evolution and composition. Furthermore, these observations help in understanding dark energy and constrain dark matter theories.