SSM - INAF Joint Event: From Next Generation Facilities to Key Cosmological Challenges

Thursday 21 May 2026, 14:30 → 18:00 Europe/Rome

Aula Magna - Secondo Piano (Scuola Superiore Meridionale - Via Mezzocannone 4)

Speaker: Prof. R. Ragazzoni

Title: New Eyes on the Cosmos: Telescopes Now and Next

Abstract. Astrophysical observation has moved beyond the boundaries of the electromagnetic spectrum. Today, we probe the Universe not only through light, but also through messengers such as neutrinos and gravitational waves, gathering information both on the physical properties of individual celestial objects and on the geometries in which they evolve. What are the most powerful telescopes of today, and what will define the observatories of tomorrow, from the perspective of a leading national research institution?

 

Speaker: M. Romaniello

Title: The Hubble Constant and the Quest to Measure the Universe

Abstract. The Hubble Constant, H₀, measures the current expansion rate of the Universe. It is one of the most fundamental parameters in cosmology, setting the absolute distance scale and,hence, the age of the Universe and the absolute values of luminosities and sizes. Ever since a non-static Universe emerged as a natural, and yet unexpected, consequence of Einstein's equations of General Relativity, measuring what came to be known as the Hubble Constant has sparked fierce scientific debate. In this talk, I will trace this fascinating history, from the earliest attempts to map the cosmos to the current tension between early- and late-Universe measurements of H₀. This discrepancy, if not attributable to systematic errors, may point to physics beyond the standard cosmological model — posing one of the deepest challenges to our current understanding of the Universe.