The Universe in a Box: Astrophysical Simulation and Supercomputing

From collapsing dark matter to merging black holes, the story of our universe is vast, chaotic—and increasingly told through code.

In this engaging public lecture, cosmologist Andrew Pontzen explores how supercomputers and simulations are transforming our understanding of the cosmos. Along the way, we trace the surprising history of these tools—from ancient star calculators to wartime weather forecasts—and discover how digital models now help scientists uncover the origins of galaxies, the role of black holes, and the mysteries of dark matter.