Standard cosmology relies on the Big Bang and dark energy, but there is an alternative — the Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi model, where the Universe's expansion is explained not by a mysterious force, but by natural unevenness in the distribution of matter — clusters of galaxies and empty voids.
Previously, precise calculations in this model were like creating a detailed 3D model of a winding road: every pothole had to be computed for hours. Now researchers have used a program that sifts through millions of simple mathematical expressions, fitting them to the results of complex simulations — almost like evolution selecting the fittest options. The resulting formulas are so compact they could fit on a napkin, yet they replace those days-long calculations with an error of less than 0.3%.
Now scientists will be able to check in seconds how this 'bumpy' Universe correlates with the actual distribution of galaxies and supernova explosions, and how much better it is than the standard model with dark energy. This isn't just a time-saver: it might turn out that dark energy is a mirage, and the whole secret lies in the bumps.
The program that searched for formulas worked like digital evolution: out of millions of random combinations, the most accurate survived — resulting in equations that fit on a sticky note. In a similar way, you could 'rediscover' the law of universal gravitation simply by watching falling apples, but spending not centuries, just a couple of hours.