The simulation was done using NASA's supercomputer named "Pleiades" which is the seventh most powerful computer in the world (12 terrabytes of RAM and 75TB Harddrive)! This amazing computer, combined with the Bolshoi Simulation Code, created the most accurate simulation of the universe ever done.
http://www.space.com/13151-universe-evolution-nasa-supercomputer-simulation.html
The simulation shows filaments of dark matter spread throughout the universe which is important in helping the formation and evolution of galaxy clusters after the big bang.
As for how it helps the formation I am not sure exactly but I feel it will be fun to put fourth a theory.
We know that gravity pulls things in and dark energy pushes things apart, it's the combination of these that result in the expansion of the universe. If we have strands close together, the exert an outward force, pushing whatever is between them together.
show what I mean. Yellow arrows show the
force emitted by the dark matter.
Yes, my dark matter strand is extremely rough (and visible for our own purposes), however it relays my point. DARK MATTER PUSHES CLUSTERS TOGETHER!!!!
So..... Back to that planet I made..... I tried to put a tree on it.....
(Please ignore the white outline. Something went wrong when I rendered it and I couldnt find the problem)
Due to high temperatures, the tree instantly caught on fire.... But! That means there might be oxygen........ Hmmmmmm.......
-MrAstrowhat
I can't wait when normal electronic devices go from Gigabytes to Terabytes! It makes me wonder though, despite the precision of the calculations done by one of the best supercomputers, it may not be an accurate representation of the universe. We still have a difficult time understanding the nature of dark matter, and especially dark energy which both compose most of the universe! I think until we fully understand their effects on spacetime, our models of the universe may be unfortunately incomplete =(
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