AI Scans 5.6-Trillion-Pixel Universe Map and Confirms 70 New Gravitational Lenses in Landmark Astronomy Study
Scientists have used artificial intelligence to discover 70 new gravitational lenses within the largest 2D map of the universe ever created; a milestone that opens new windows into dark matter, galaxy formation, and the expansion rate of the cosmos. PHYS ORG
The map, released in August 2026 by the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys, spans 5.6 trillion pixels and contains nearly four billion objects including stars, galaxies, black holes, and asteroids. Built over 13 years using three ground-based telescope arrays in Chile and Arizona, it is the most comprehensive wide-field sky survey in history.
Researchers led by Xiaosheng Huang of Santa Clara University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory deployed a residual neural network to scan the dataset for gravitational lensing signatures; rare events where a massive foreground object bends and magnifies light from a more distant source, producing arcs or rings. Confirmation came via spectroscopic follow-up using the MUSE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope.
The confirmed lenses have been added to the DESI Strong Lens Foundry Project and will be used alongside JWST, Hubble, and the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
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