Planck helps to understand the macrostructure of the universe
Designed to detect the fossil radiation of the universe, the Planck satellite, working in tandem with Herschel, can also help to understand the macrostructure of the universe. A just-published experimental study, carried out with the participation of SISSA, has detected astronomical sources that may be precursors to galaxy clusters, the largest dynamically stable structures existing in the universe. These primitive elements have long been sought by astrophysicists since they are crucial for tracing the development of the universe's macrostructures. The classic methods used in the quest for large-scale structures are unfortunately difficult to apply (or just completely inapplicable to these objects). The method used by Planck is based on the predictions put forward in a study conducted by Mattia Negrello in 2005 as part of his PhD thesis at SISSA, in turn based on a theoretical model devised at SISSA and the Astronomical Observatory of Padova.