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The Structure of the Universe — From Quantum to Cosmic Web - Leejohnston - 11-16-2025
? The Structure of the Universe — From Quantum to Cosmic Web
Cosmology & Universal Structure — The Lumin Archive
? Overview
The universe has structure on every scale — from tiny subatomic fields to colossal galaxy filaments stretching billions of light-years.
In this thread we explore:
• The hierarchy of cosmic structure
• What the universe looks like on different size scales
• How matter arranges itself into galaxies, clusters, and filaments
• The role of dark matter and dark energy
Clear diagrams included for easy learning.
? 1. The Smallest Scale — Quantum Fields
The foundation of everything is not particles…
but fields.
Every point in space contains:
• The electromagnetic field
• The Higgs field
• Quark & gluon fields
• Neutrino fields
Matter = tiny excitations (“ripples”) in these fields.
Simple visual:
Code:
Quantum Field
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~
Ripple = particle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~? 2. Atoms → Stars → Galaxies
Matter builds upward in layers:
1. Atoms
2. Molecules
3. Stars (fusion factories)
4. Star clusters
5. Galaxies (billions of stars)
6. Galaxy groups and clusters
Diagram:
Code:
Atoms → Stars → Galaxies → Clusters → Superclusters? 3. The Cosmic Web — The Universe’s Largest Structure
On the biggest scales, matter forms a giant 3-D web.
• Filaments — long chains of galaxies
• Nodes — galaxy clusters
• Voids — huge empty regions
• Sheets — planar walls of galaxies
Visual ASCII:
Code:
Filament Filament
\ /
\ Node /
\ (●) /
\ | /
\ | /
\| /
---●---
/ | \
/ | \
Void FilamentThis pattern formed through 13.8 billion years of gravity pulling matter together.
? 4. Dark Matter — The Cosmic Scaffolding
Visible matter is only the “paint”.
Dark matter is the scaffolding underneath.
It forms the framework into which galaxies fall.
Why?
Dark matter:
• Is cold (slow-moving)
• Clumps under gravity
• Does not interact with light
• Creates deep gravitational wells
Without dark matter, galaxies could not form at all.
? 5. Dark Energy — The Great Expansion Driver
Dark energy is the force causing the universe to expand faster.
Key facts:
• Makes up ~68% of the universe
• Drives accelerating cosmic expansion
• Opposes gravity on the largest scales
Simple visual:
Code:
Galaxies: ● ● ●
Expansion: → → →? 6. The Universe Has No Centre (and No Edge)
This is one of the most misunderstood ideas.
The universe is expanding everywhere equally.
There is no:
• central point
• outer edge
• place you can “reach the end”
Space itself stretches.
? 7. The Observable Universe vs The Entire Universe
Observable universe radius:
~46.5 billion light-years
Entire universe:
Likely infinite, or at least far larger than we can detect.
We only see the region where light had time to reach us.
? Summary
• Matter forms a hierarchy from quantum fields to the cosmic web
• Galaxies live inside massive dark matter halos
• The universe expands everywhere, with no centre
• Dark energy drives acceleration
• We can only observe a tiny fraction of the whole cosmos
Written for The Lumin Archive — Understanding the universe through clarity and reason.