Scientists from the University of Sussex brought dark matter and distant galaxies to life this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s Future Lab.

Led by Professor Stephen Wilkins and Dr Will Roper from the Department of Physics & Astronomy, the team showcased two interactive exhibits inspired by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid telescope — launched in 2023 to map the universe and investigate dark matter and dark energy.

Visitors explored how gravity bends light from distant galaxies through a hands-on demonstration of gravitational lensing. A live Universe simulator let guests travel through billions of years of cosmic history, revealing how the cosmos has evolved over time. Researchers from the University were on hand to explain the science and answer questions throughout the event.

The simulation was powered by the University’s High Performance Computing cluster, Artemis, with strong support from colleagues in IT Services.

Over the weekend, the team reached thousands of visitors, including several hundred school children. The exhibit proved popular with audiences of all ages, sparking curiosity and conversations about the invisible forces shaping our cosmos.

“It’s always a pleasure to exhibit at the Festival of Speed,” said Professor Wilkins. “It provides a fantastic way to reach new and diverse audiences with cutting-edge science and technology, and we really value the resources and support the Festival offers to make this possible.”