The history of computer simulations of galaxies like our own Milky Way is dotted with remarkable successes, but an even greater number of impressive failures. This inability to make a model of the Milky Way is quite surprising, given that the basic physics is well understood, and part of the A-level syllabus here in the United Kingdom. Recent advances suggest that we might have finally made a breakthrough, making use of powerful supercomputers and novel approaches to feeding energy into the forming galaxies. Brad will demonstrate how we “mine the fossil record” of our simulated galaxies, comparing and contrasting the […] Continue Reading »