Quipu: Universe's Largest Structure Found

A team led by the Max Planck Institute has identified 'Quipu,' the largest known structure in the universe, spanning 1.3 billion light-years and containing 200 quadrillion solar masses. This discovery challenges our understanding of cosmic structures and their effects on the universe, including gravitational lensing and cosmic microwave background distortions. These findings have significant implications for cosmological models and measurements, underscoring the importance of understanding large-scale structures. The existence of such superstructures emphasizes the vastness and complexity of the universe, reshaping our perception of cosmic evolution. Separately, a cosmic explosion, designated EP240408a, has perplexed astronomers as it does not conform to known cosmic events, possibly representing a white dwarf being shredded by a medium-sized black hole. Additionally, an international research effort has advanced the study of the supernova SN 2014C, revealing insights into its complex explosion mechanisms and the evolution of its progenitor star.