MIT and Harvard researchers develop Lumina universe simulation

Researchers from MIT and Harvard University have created Lumina, a high-resolution computer simulation that reconstructs the first 2 billion years of the universe. Utilizing Frontier, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, the model employs over 15,000 graphics processing units to track the complex interactions between gas, light, and dark matter.

Spanning approximately 1.5 billion light-years on each side, Lumina is roughly 100 times larger than previous models. The simulation covers processes ranging from small-scale star and galaxy formation to the large-scale re-ionization of hydrogen and helium. This scale allows scientists to better understand the role of dark matter and dark energy in cosmic evolution.

By comparing Lumina’s predictions with real-world data from instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers aim to test current cosmological theories and refine the understanding of how the universe transitioned out of its dark ages.