Astronomy
Mapping the Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmic Web
Quick fact
Hubble's 3D map of the universe, from surveys like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, reveals that galaxies are arranged in filaments and sheets surrounding enormous empty voids, creating a pattern that resembles a cosmic sponge or foam.
Why this is interesting
When you look at the night sky, you see stars and galaxies scattered randomly. But zoom out to the scale of the entire universe, and galaxies are not scattered at all — they form an intricate, web-like pattern that spans billions of light-years. What creates this structure?