Exploring the Universe with Cosmic Surveys

  • Feb. 15, 2023, 4:00 pm US/Central
  • Alex Drlica-Wagner, Fermilab
  • Chris Stoughton
  • Video

Cosmic surveys use observations of stars and galaxies to help ascertain the fundamental laws that govern the Universe. Over the last several decades, cosmic surveys using large optical and near-infrared telescopes, advanced digital cameras, and intricate spectroscopic instruments have revolutionized our understanding of the Universe. Measurements of the cosmic expansion history and the growth of cosmic structure have been shown to be sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model, including the nature of dark energy, the properties of dark matter, the mass of neutrinos, and the initial conditions of the Universe (e.g., inflation). I will summarize some recent results from cosmic surveys and discuss the exciting future on the horizon.