Astronomers have identified the largest structure in the universe to date, dubbed 'Quipu' after an Inca system of measurement. This colossal structure stretches over 1.3 billion light-years, challenging our understanding of the universe's evolution.
The research, published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, was led by Hans Bohringer of the Max Planck Institute. Quipu and four other superstructures identified by the researchers contain 45% of galaxy clusters, 30% of galaxies, 25% of matter, and occupy 13% of the volume of the universe.
These superstructures are massive enough to influence cosmological measurements, including the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the relic radiation from the Big Bang. The gravity of these structures distorts the CMB, creating fluctuations that can interfere with our understanding of the universe's early stages.
Superstructures also impact measurements of the Hubble constant, a fundamental value in cosmology that describes the rate of the universe's expansion. The massive structures influence the peculiar velocities of galaxies, distorting our measurements of the Hubble constant.
The discovery of Quipu and other superstructures highlights the need for further investigation into the impact of these massive structures on our understanding of the universe. Their influence on cosmological measurements and our understanding of the universe's evolution is significant and requires further study.