Science

Unveiling the Cosmic Web: The Shocking Truth About the Universe's Weakest Magnetic Fields

2025-09-06

Author: Ming

The Universe's Hidden Force: Magnetic Fields Compared to the Human Brain

A groundbreaking new study reveals that the universe's earliest magnetic fields were surprisingly weak, on par with the magnetic activity found in the human brain. Researchers utilized thousands of computer simulations to unearth remnants of these ancient fields, which have endured within the cosmic web for billions of years.

From the Big Bang to the Cosmic Web

Magnetism, a fundamental force stemming from moving electrical charges, first emerged shortly after the Big Bang. During this chaotic time, electrically charged particles jostled about, creating what scientists refer to as primordial magnetic fields. While it has long been accepted that these fields were weaker than those generated by stars and black holes today, this recent study pushes that limit even further.

Mind-Blowing Comparisons: Weaker than a Fridge Magnet!

Published in the prestigious journal *Physical Review Letters* on August 13, the research team calculated that these primordial magnetic fields likely peaked at a minuscule strength of just 0.00000000002 gauss—infinitely weaker than your average refrigerator magnet, which measures around 100 gauss. The researchers boldly stated that these magnetic fields were comparable to the electrical activity seen in neurons within the human brain.

The Cosmic Web: A Grand Mystery Unraveled