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US Lab Models Galaxy Cluster Merger

Posted by samzenpus on from the we're-going-to-need-more-ram dept.

astroengine writes "The scales are mind-boggling and the physics is cutting edge, so how do you go about simulating the collision of two galactic clusters? Using some of the most powerful computers in the world, researchers at Argonne National Laboratory, the Flash Center at the University of Chicago and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have done just that."

4 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. Science by graphical bedazzlement by rbmyers · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Department of Energy totally loves this kind of publicity. They want you looking at their pretty pictures and saying "Oh, wow!" The bureaucrat with whom I constantly spar over this science (and computer budgets) by pictures denies that the pictures are all that important, but we are constantly bombarded by them. The science and the numerics here may be great or they may be garbage. It doesn't matter all that much, I claim, because the people who vote on budgets and write the checks would never know the difference. Might as well turn it all over to Pixar for all anyone could prove one way or the other.

    1. Re:Science by graphical bedazzlement by Sarten-X · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Graphics give understanding, though. A numeric analysis can show exactly what happens, but it doesn't convey a general idea of what's going on. Pictures are easier to understand, and show more information at once. There's a reason why the weatherman shows his forecasts on a giant map.

      Speaking of giant maps, I visited the ANL recently, and saw a computer system being used for related research. If they're using the same visualization system (which looks REALLY similar to the video in TFA), then this graphical model could be shown on a giant screen, and the model could be rotated & zoomed at any point. It's science through pictures, not just pictures of science.

      --
      You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
  2. Re:Hopelessly confused by dark matter. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Bought that until you said "aether". Nice one! Almost got me to write an angry reply...

  3. Re:oh yes, dark energy by Kagura · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's better than fudging a cosmological constant into all of our equations.

    Unless you still believe in the steady state theory.