The public release spans more than 2.5 petabytes, with Leiden University researchers and NOVA saying it can trace cosmic evolution from shortly after the Big Bang.
The simulations model dark matter, ordinary matter and dark energy together, linking galaxy-scale physics with the universe's large-scale structure across billions of light-years.
Researchers say the dataset should help interpret next-generation sky surveys, test models of galaxy formation and cosmology, and study rare objects such as massive galaxy clusters and quasars.
Can this massive 'virtual universe' finally prove if dark energy is weakening and our standard cosmological model is wrong?
Will AI trained on virtual universes, not humans, become the next generation of astronomical discoverers?
FLAMINGO 2026: Public Release of a 2.5 Petabyte Cosmological Simulation Transforming Universe Research
Overview
In early 2026, an international team publicly released the FLAMINGO cosmological simulation dataset, providing over 2.5 petabytes of data through a web service with selective download. Built using the open-source SWIFT code and incorporating detailed baryonic physics with machine learning calibration, FLAMINGO enables researchers worldwide to trace the evolution of matter from the Big Bang to today. This open access accelerates global astrophysical research, helping to address key challenges like the S₈ tension and probing the effects of neutrino masses and dark energy. The project continues to plan new simulations to refine our understanding of the universe's fundamental properties.