Exists Any Structural Monument Larger Than the Hercules-Corona Borealis Wall?
In the vast expanse of the universe, mega-structures of unprecedented size are being discovered, challenging our understanding of the Cosmological Principle and forcing cosmologists to reconsider their theories.
The Shapley Supercluster, currently recognised as the largest known concentration of matter in our cosmic neighbourhood, spans approximately 500 million light-years. Superclusters, large galaxy groupings, play a significant role in local cosmology.
However, even larger entities are causing a stir. The Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall (HCBGW), a proposed cosmic megastructure, is estimated to stretch over about 10 billion light-years. If confirmed, it would eclipse the Shapley Supercluster and potentially be the largest single entity ever detected in the observable universe.
The detection of the HCBGW challenges the Cosmological Principle, a theory that posits the universe is homogeneous and isotropic when viewed at sufficiently large scales. The discovery of such a vast structure suggests that the universe may not be uniform at the largest scales as previously assumed, posing profound questions about the nature and formation of cosmic structure.
Another intriguing discovery is the Quipu Superstructure, the largest reliably characterised cosmic web filament, with a size of about 1.3-1.4 billion light-years. Its size pushes up against the "End of Greatness," the scale (~1.2 billion light-years) where the universe is predicted to become homogeneous.
Two more recent discoveries, the Giant Arc and the Big Ring, also challenge the Cosmological Principle as they far exceed the theoretical size limit predicted by it. If confirmed, these structures could force a major revision of cosmological theories.
The odds of finding two massive structures so close together by chance are extremely small, leading to speculation about new physics, such as cosmic strings from the early universe or Conformal Cyclic Cosmology (Roger Penrose). However, the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall is currently not considered real, with most evidence suggesting it's a statistical fluke from gamma-ray burst data.
Upcoming surveys, such as Euclid Space Telescope, Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, are expected to bring clarity to the debate about the existence and size of cosmic structures like the HCB, and potentially discover even larger confirmed structures.
In summary, the Shapley Supercluster and the Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall represent the largest confirmed and most enigmatic cosmic mega-structures, challenging foundational assumptions about the universe’s uniformity and structure. Additionally, cutting-edge observational data hint at even more mysterious large-scale phenomena requiring new physics for full understanding.
| Mega-Structure | Approximate Scale | Nature and Significance | |-----------------------------|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Shapley Supercluster | ~500 million light-years| Largest known concentration of matter nearby; superclusters are large galaxy groupings influencing local cosmology[1]. | | Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall (HCBGW) | ~10 billion light-years | Proposed cosmic megastructure; challenges the Cosmological Principle by indicating large-scale inhomogeneity[2]. | | Universe inside a Black Hole? | Conceptual model | Suggests universe might be bounded by or inside a black hole; implies new physics in cosmic evolution and structure[4][5]. | | Quipu Superstructure | ~1.4 billion light-years | Largest confirmed cosmic structure; pushes up against the "End of Greatness"[3]. | | Giant Arc | ~3.3 billion light-years | A massive structure, if confirmed, could force a major revision of cosmological theories[6]. | | Big Ring | ~1.3 billion light-years diameter, 4 billion light-years circumference | Another massive structure, located in the same region of the sky and similar distance as the Giant Arc[6]. |
[1] https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cosmos/multimedia/gallery/superclusters.html [2] https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13392 [3] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190408171718.htm [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/nature26280 [5] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210312183247.htm [6] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04005-y
Read also:
- Zigbee and LoRa Low-Power Internet of Things (IoT) Network Protocols: The Revolution in Data Transmission and Networking
- Operating solar panels during winter and efficiency assessment
- Breakthrough in green ammonia synthesis as a significant advancement toward decarbonization is reported.
- Quarterly Financial Report Discussion for Burning Rock Biotech Limited in 2022's Second Quarter
