Dwarf galaxies in context

Connecting large and small scales

The 'Λ + cold dark matter' (ΛCDM) model is the cornerstone of modern cosmology. It successfully predicts the emergence of the cosmic web: a vast, filamentary network comprising all matter in the Universe that drives the evolution of galaxies. However, recent JWST observations of low-mass dwarf galaxies from the early Universe challenge key predictions of galaxy formation models within the ΛCDM framework. This could signal a fundamental issue with ΛCDM or reflect that dwarf galaxies are currently poorly understood. Crucially, existing models overlook the impact of the cosmic web on dwarf galaxies, which are often studied in isolation despite their sensitivity to their environment. Without accounting for this, observations may be misinterpreted, obstructing efforts to test ΛCDM. This project addresses this critical gap by developing new models connecting dwarf galaxy properties to the cosmic web, thus allowing for the unbiased interpretation of future observations.