Scientists have reassessed the size of the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall, a massive structure composed of galaxy groups and clusters. The updated measurements suggest it spans approximately 10 billion light-years, potentially challenging current cosmological models.
A research team led by István Horváth used gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) to map the structure. GRBs, which are extremely bright explosions, act as markers to trace the distribution of matter in the universe. Their analysis indicates that the Great Wall extends from redshift z = 0.33 to z = 2.43.
Named after the constellations Hercules and Corona Borealis, where it's located, the Great Wall's immense size challenges the cosmological principle. This principle assumes the universe is largely uniform on a grand scale, with a theoretical size limit of 1.2 billion light-years for large structures. The Great Wall's vastness may require a re-evaluation of our understanding of the universe's evolution and the models used to describe it.