Overlooked But Incredible Measurements in Cosmology!

In the latest episode of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast, we dive into cosmology and particle physics, discussing some fascinating findings and debates with my brilliant friend, Professor Marc Kamionkowski -- Johns Hopkins University. Here are three key takeaways:

- Researchers brainstorm and talk through papers to understand anomalies and interpret data to potentially provide explanations. For example, Todd Lauer, and the New Horizons team made a remarkable measurement that was initially overlooked, leading to new questions about how dark the night sky should really be. But New Horizons was originally a mission to Pluto, not to look at the darkness of deep space!

- The inability to answer certain questions does not invalidate the overall cosmological model; however, there are still debates regarding the validity of cosmological models and the age of stars and galaxies thanks to data from the James Webb Space Telescope.

- Inflation is still based on the same basic idea as 30-40 years ago, with notable theoretical developments in recent years. Inflation has exceeded expectations in terms of experimental observations, with measurements of the first acoustic peaks in the Cosmic Microwave Background power spectrum coming earlier than anticipated.

Along the way, Marc dished out a ton of actionable advice for young scholars interested in a research career:

1. Explore different areas of research: The speakers encourage researchers to explore a wide range of topics and be open to collaborating with others in different fields. This can help generate new ideas and perspectives that may lead to breakthroughs.

2. Question assumptions: The speakers emphasize the importance of questioning assumptions and challenging established theories. By doing so, researchers may discover new insights and develop new theories that better explain observations.

3. Be open to criticism: It's important for researchers to be open to criticism and feedback, even if it's negative. This can help improve their work and refine their ideas.

4. Collaborate and share data: Collaboration and data sharing are essential for the advancement of the field. Researchers should be willing to work together and share their data to help solve some of the biggest puzzles in astrophysics and cosmology.

5. Stay up-to-date on new research: Researchers must stay up-to-date on new research and advancements in the field. This helps them build upon existing theories and develop new ideas that can help address unanswered questions.

Don't miss out on this episode and learn more about the tensions and anxieties in cosmology. Watch here on Youtube now or listen on Apple Podcasts, or on Spotify or on Audible. Find other ways to listen here: briankeating.com/podcast for your favorite podcast platform! #INTOTHEIMPOSSIBLE #Cosmology #ParticlePhysics #Inflation #ScienceEducation #PodcastEpisode