Unveiling the Cosmos: Euclid's FLAGSHIP-2 Simulation Maps 3.4 Billion Galaxies

Humanity's quest to understand the universe just took a monumental leap forward. Scientists from the international Euclid Collaboration have pulled back the cosmic veil, unveiling FLAGSHIP-2 – the most ambitious and expansive simulation of the universe ever conceived. This digital marvel models an astonishing 3.4 billion galaxies, tracing the universe's evolution over its entire 13.8-billion-year history, all in preparation for the groundbreaking data expected from the Euclid space telescope.

Imagine a digital twin of our universe, meticulously crafted to predict the distribution of dark matter and dark energy – the mysterious components that make up 95% of the cosmos, yet remain invisible to us.

That's precisely what FLAGSHIP-2 aims to be. This colossal simulation isn't merely a theoretical exercise; it's a critical tool designed to help scientists interpret the real-world observations that Euclid will soon deliver, allowing them to test and refine our most fundamental cosmological models.

The scale of this endeavor is truly breathtaking.

FLAGSHIP-2 simulates a cubic region of space with sides measuring approximately 7.5 billion light-years, capturing a vast and detailed cosmic tapestry. Within this enormous volume, it meticulously tracks the gravitational interactions and evolution of 2.1 trillion particles, representing both dark matter and ordinary gas.

From these fundamental building blocks, the simulation then extrapolates the formation and growth of 3.4 billion distinct galaxies, painting an unprecedented picture of cosmic structure formation.

Creating a simulation of this magnitude required immense computational power and ingenuity. The Euclid Consortium, a vast international collaboration of scientists, harnessed some of the world's most powerful supercomputers, including Piz Daint at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) and SuperMUC-NG at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ).

The project demanded an astronomical 30 million CPU hours, equivalent to one computer running continuously for over 3,400 years – a testament to the dedication and technological prowess behind this scientific breakthrough.

This pioneering simulation represents a crucial step in preparing for the flood of data from the Euclid telescope, which is poised to deliver the most detailed 3D map of the universe to date.

By generating incredibly realistic synthetic sky maps, FLAGSHIP-2 allows astronomers to fine-tune their data analysis techniques, identify potential biases, and develop robust methods for extracting profound insights into the nature of dark energy and dark matter. It's an essential dress rehearsal for one of the most exciting astronomical missions of our time.

The release of FLAGSHIP-2 doesn't just benefit the Euclid mission; it provides an invaluable resource for the entire cosmology community.

Researchers worldwide can now access these detailed simulations, using them to explore various aspects of galaxy formation, large-scale structure, and the fundamental physics governing our universe. As Euclid continues its mission to unravel the cosmos's greatest mysteries, simulations like FLAGSHIP-2 will be instrumental in translating raw data into groundbreaking discoveries, bringing us closer than ever to understanding the origins and ultimate fate of everything.