Black square image of space similar to a starry night sky. The black background is speckled with a huge number of small, luminous white dots. Most dots are linked with others by thin white lines to form a complex web. The white dots, representing galaxies, are spaced out at irregular positions and the links between them create the impression of denser clusters in particular in the middle of the image and along the diagonal of the upper left and lower left quadrants. Not all dots are linked; smaller dots seem to have fewer and shorter links to other dots. These links between dots remind of the visualization of network structures.

See more objects with the tag stars, data visualization, cosmos, simulation.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
2016	Work on this object began.
2019	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Visualizing the Cosmic Web, 2016

It was designed by Kim Albrecht and Barabási Lab, Northeastern University. It is dated 2016. Its medium is video. It is a part of the department.

To develop hypotheses about the structure of the cosmic web, researchers gathered data from 24,000 galaxies and applied algorithms to the data set. Kim Albrecht built a simulation that explores 3 models of the cosmic web using fixed length (based on distance), varying length (based on size), and nearest neighbor. Researchers compared observable data with his simulation and concluded that the nearest-neighbor model offers the best correlations between physical characteristics in nearby galaxies. Albrecht’s research tool is available on the internet, allowing users to toggle between and explore the 3 models.

It is credited Courtesy of Kim Albrecht.

Two waist coat panels. The arm is cut off, creating a tank-top like fit. A floral pattern runs down the center of the two panels, reaching the bottom and curving outward on each side. The base layer is a tan-grey, the floral pattern is dark brown.

Waistcoat Panels
silk, metallic thread, metallic foil.
Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma....
1962-54-2-a,b

Comb (England)
tortoiseshell, jet.
Gift of Mrs. Grafton H. Pyne.
1952-137-2

Sidewall, Aurora Ray, 2014
digital print on linen-textured vinyl.
Gift of Calico Wallpaper.
s-e-2316

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Data Visualization, Flight Patterns
video made with processing, adobe after effects, maya.
Gift of Aaron Koblin.
2014-41-1

Image of the simulated three-dimensional molecular structure of a complex biomolecule. On a black background, the molecule is represented by a large cluster of thousands of colorful spheres. Each sphere may represent an atom, or small group of atoms. Near the edges of the cluster, single spheres may represent other substances that may interact with the biomolecule, such as ions or substrate molecules. In the lower portion of the cluster, the shape is cylindrical, with a nearly-chevron arrangement of colors. The top portion is conical, subdivided in roughly oval-shaped areas of similarly-colored spheres arranged next to each other vertically within the cone. The cone and cylinder are connected by a central, intermediate, smaller cylinder with a helically twisted pattern of differently colored spheres. Also, on the right side of the cluster we see a less clearly defined lateral structure that connects the cylinder and the cone, similar to a handle.

Choreography of Life, 2019
video.
Courtesy of Charles Reilly.
NATURE.002

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/4wUs7h/
Accession Number NATURE.011
Object ID 2318798836