PBS Space Time PBS Space Time

The NEW Crisis in Cosmology

Oct 29, 2026 · 22m

Summary

This episode explores the "Hubble tension," a growing discrepancy between the universe's expansion rate measured via the cosmic distance ladder and the Planck satellite's early universe data. The host explains how the Gaia mission's precise parallax measurements have refined the distance ladder, confirming the tension rather than resolving it. The discussion covers potential explanations, such as evolving dark energy, and introduces independent measurement methods like baryon acoustic oscillations, gravitational lensing, and standard sirens to help resolve this cosmological crisis.

Topics discussed

Sponsorships: SAP Concur and Sephora Introduction: The Crisis in Cosmology The Hubble Tension: Two Discrepanant Measurements Refresher: Expansion, Redshift, and Hubble's Constant The Cosmic Distance Ladder and Standard Candles Two Approaches: Supernovae vs. Independent Methods The Cosmic Microwave Background and Planck Satellite Comparing Planck (67.6) and Supernova (73.5) Results Potential Errors: Dark Energy and Distance Ladder Flaws Stellar Parallax and the Foundation of the Distance Ladder The Gaia Mission and Recalibrating Cepheid Variables Gaia Results Confirm the Tension Sponsorships: SAP Concur and Sephora Sponsorship: LinkedIn Hiring Pro Alternative Method: Baryon Acoustic Oscillations Alternative Method: Gravitational Lensing Time Delays Future Methods: Gravitational Waves and Standard Sirens Patreon Shoutouts and Transition to Comments Comment: Traveling at the Speed of Light in Time Sponsorships: SAP Concur, Sephora, and McDonald's Comment: Huygens' Principle and Feynman's Path Integral Comment: Gravity, Light, and Star Wars Physics Sponsorships: LinkedIn and McDonald's Sponsorship: Kuvasier Cognac
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