Astronomers have created the most detailed simulation of the Milky Way ever, leveraging artificial intelligence to map the evolution of our galaxy with 100 billion stars. This breakthrough dramatically reduces the time required for complex galactic modeling, opening new avenues for understanding the universe’s largest structures.
The Need for Speed: Why Galactic Simulations Matter
Simulating galactic evolution is computationally intensive. Previous high-resolution models, limited to roughly one billion stars, took decades to model just a fraction of the Milky Way’s history. This limitation hindered the ability to study long-term galactic processes, such as the formation of stars and the distribution of elements essential for life. The new AI-assisted simulation bypasses this bottleneck by running 100 times faster than previous models.
How AI Accelerated the Process
The key to this leap forward lies in a novel methodology combining machine learning with traditional numerical simulations. Led by Keiya Hirashima of the RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences in Japan, the team developed a deep-learning surrogate model trained on high-resolution supernova data.
This AI component learns to predict the expansion of supernova remnants over 100,000 years—a timescale previously too slow to simulate accurately. Supernovas are critical because they distribute elements and energy throughout the galaxy, influencing the next generation of stars. By integrating the AI’s predictions into the broader simulation, researchers can capture the short-term effects that shape long-term galactic evolution.
From Years to Days: The Simulation’s Impact
The result is staggering. Where simulating one million years of galactic evolution once required 315 hours (13 days) using older models, the new AI-powered system completes the same task in just 2.78 hours. Simulating a billion years now takes 115 days instead of 36 years. This speed allows astronomers to test theories about the Milky Way’s formation, structure, and chemical evolution with unprecedented efficiency.
Beyond Astrophysics: A New Era of Simulation
Hirashima believes this integration of AI and high-performance computing marks a shift in computational science. The methodology is not limited to astrophysics; it could be adapted to model other complex systems such as climate change, ocean currents, or weather patterns. The team notes that this approach allows for a move “beyond pattern recognition to become a genuine tool for scientific discovery”.
This achievement demonstrates the power of AI to accelerate scientific progress by bridging the gap between detailed short-term phenomena and large-scale long-term processes. The simulation not only helps trace the evolution of our galaxy but also offers a glimpse into how the elements necessary for life itself emerged.
