We create a digital twin of the universe to understand the Big Bang

Physicist Jens Jasche is a researcher in cosmology and machine learning at the Oskar Klein Centre and Fysikum at Stockholm University. Together with system developer Stuart McAlpine, he is working to create an exact digital twin of our universe. It is the first of its kind and is based on a combination of machine learning, AI, cutting-edge statistical techniques and numerical simulation. With it, they hope to contribute to a greater understanding of the true nature of the universe and the underlying mechanisms that govern all the structures and patterns, but also dark energy and gravity.

    It is important to never stop asking questions and to keep an open mind. As a scientist, I have the privilege of constantly meeting students who haven't stopped asking questions yet.

"Understanding the universe in depth will open up entirely new fields of development. We will also be in a better position to understand where we are heading.

Researchers and students explore a digital replica of the universe with VR goggles. Photo: Björn Terring/Stockholm University.

When did the idea of building a digital twin of the universe come up?

"Ever since I was a doctoral student, I have felt that the one-dimensional graphs that previously existed of the universe are very limiting. In them it was not possible to see any movement or direction. I therefore dreamed of a more detailed model of the universe where all galaxies are in the right position.

How do you get to think so big?

"It is important to never stop asking questions and to keep an open mind. As a researcher, I have the privilege of constantly meeting students who haven't stopped asking questions yet. Questioning is also extremely important. In every situation, trying to think beyond the limitations that our time socialises us into.

As a physicist, how do you find the right questions?

"The big questions are actually very obvious in physics. As a physicist, you always start from what is the strongest force in a field. If we accept the laws of physics, we can then always predict the outcome of something. As physicists, we are always looking for things we can't explain. If we can't explain something, we have found a new field of research. As physicists, we always get excited when the data doesn't fit or when we can't explain something because it means there is something new to learn.

Jens Jasche Photo: Sören Andersson

 

Du you want to know more about Jens and his research?

“Dare to explore your full potential”

New simulation recreates the entire evolution of the Near Universe

Stockholm Researchers Provide clues to solve cosmic conundrum

Creative research environment attracts physicists and astronomers to Stockholm

 

What are the big questions in cosmology?

"In cosmology, the starting point is always gravity. In my case, it's about the origin of the universe: what did the universe look like in the beginning? What does the universe consist of? How much dark matter is there? How much dark energy? Are there any other constituents? Are the laws of gravity correct?

The possibility of failure always gives us new knowledge on how to move forward.

How do you communicate your vision to students?

"I teach both Master's and PhD students and I always want to convey to my students the joy of trying new things without the need to succeed. The possibility to fail always gives us new knowledge on how to move forward. The freedom to explore is the most important thing we can give. Whatever profession someone chooses, critical thinking is one of the most important tools. It is a way of looking at knowledge and the world.

What does it mean that Stockholm University is an international environment?

"Cosmological research is entirely international. It requires satellites and telescopes worth billions, so you can't run your own race. The Oskar Klein Centre, which is a collaboration between Stockholm University and KTH, is an extremely international and cross-border research environment. Here, different research fields and research orientations meet to look at areas such as dark energy and dark matter from all possible angles. We are theorists, observers and experimentalists. All are needed to produce results. It is when you put together different approaches that knowledge is created.

"The best thing about research is the opportunity to work with others with the same motivations. To face challenges together with others who, when things get difficult, make sure to reach the goal anyway. At the same time, the research field is a bit of a competition. Everyone endeavours to be the first to discover or prove something.

What is most important for keeping at the forefront?

"In order to move forward, you need to constantly focus on the next step. It takes 10-20 years to develop the next area of technological research, which means you have to stay one step ahead. This requires a lot of intuition about what is needed in the next stage.

What's next for space research?

"Right now we are looking at the possibility of becoming part of the European Space Agency's upcoming LISA project, which will use gravitational waves to investigate the universe in depth to learn more about the creation and early stages of the universe.

It must be exciting for the students?

"Yes, it's a completely new approach to researching the universe and is far in the future. But we have already started to formulate questions to anticipate what we might be able to discover with this new technology.