Why are the galaxies distributed in clumps and filaments?

Answer 1

Inflationary theory suggests that just before the "big bang," the universe was compressed to a small point. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle says that when you restrict the possible positions of particles very tightly you expand their possible momenta. So these particles fluctated randomly within their small capsule.

However, there suddenly was an instant where everything expanded like a great balloon, and this balloon-like expansion is the reason for why the universe is expanding everywhere in a uniform fashion. However, those small fluctions in particle momentum from quantum mechanics were also spread across the universe. After the expansion, however, their momenta settled down because their positions were not restricted to such a small area. Thus, once things cooled and matter started to coalesce, the otherwise uniformly expanding universe was left with small nonuniformities in how mass was distributed. The attractive force of gravity drew that matter together and caused the clumping we see today.

So the clumping you see today reflects quantum randomness spread across the sky by inflation and then pulled together in clumps by gravity.

Answer 2

Because of gravity. (the initial cause of gravity actually existing goes back further, explained partially by the person above and it has to deal with quantum mechanics).


Our galaxy is part of a supercluster of galaxies. These galaxies all revolve at several million miles an hour around something called 'The Great Attractor'.


Gravity continues to work on all scales, even the largest and most astronomical, so this is why you see clumps and clusters of galaxies.

Answer 3

Because of the flow of the ether. The universe is filled with electromagnetic energy at a multitude of frequencies. As this energy is absorbed by atoms, it is converted into the forces we know as Strong, Weak, and magnetism. This flow of energy keeps electrons in their orbits and creates charge forces which keep solid matter in its proper geometry. The excess energy is re-radiated as heat and light. The RATIO between the incoming force of energy and the outgoing force of heat manifests itself as an attractive force called gravity.
The variations in the background energy (zero point field) of the universe lead to various configurations of the matter that is formed by the spontaneous pattern formation of matter in the 'soup'.
Clumps and filaments form much like globules of fats in unhomogenized milk. (oh, but that isn't a very common analogy in our Systematic homogenious world of imaginary Bangs, pasteurized thinking, and Dark Matter filler, now is it?)

Answer 4

Well if the current science is correct, the universe is flying outwards since and from the big bang event.
Besides if the universe was not like it is life may be very very bad with the amount of black holes and dying suns that go off all the time. Just imagine that going on right next door to our little planet.

Answer 5

and one of the more complicated ones is that during the big bang (of more properly the period of cosmic inflation immediately after teh big bang) there were slight temperature variantions in the uninverse that caused energy to cool at different rates and form matter at different times. Over billions of years thos original 'lumps' in the cosmic soup became galaxies etc.

Answer 6

Simple answer: because matter attracts matter. But there are more complex answers than that.