Visualising Matter and Cosmologies: A Transhistorical Example

TL;DR

This paper explores the historical and conceptual links between Cartesian visualisations of cosmic matter and modern astrophysical simulations, highlighting their shared representational and material aspects.

Contribution

It establishes a transhistorical connection between Cartesian vortex models and contemporary cosmic simulations, emphasizing their visual and theoretical continuities.

Findings

Identifies similarities between Descartes' vortices and modern large-scale structure simulations.

Analyzes the representational purposes and materiality of cosmic visualisations across epochs.

Highlights the importance of image analysis in understanding scientific visualisation history.

Abstract

We propose a connection between the visualisation of cosmic matter and structure formation in the Cartesian tradition and that used by contemporary astrophysics. More precisely, we identify cosmological simulations of large scale structure in the Universe with the system of vortices in Descartes physics. This connection operates at different levels of the images: their representational purpose; the theoretical systems behind their use; and, finally, their function and materiality as visual productions. A skilled use of image analysis is necessary to stress the continuities and peculiarities between different epochs and disciplines.