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The large scale structure of the universe

The large scale distribution of matter provides one of the principal observables for testing the cosmological model. The inhomogeneity of the distribution of galaxies and dark matter, the dependence of this on the scale, and its time evolution, depend critically on the parameter values of the model. The combination of measurements of the expansion rate of the Universe with those of the rate of growth of density fluctuations, allow, in principle, the basis of the theory to be tested, and also provide a verification of the theory of General Relativity. In fact, there exists the fascinating possibility that dark energy is a manifestation of a modified gravity, that is, a deviation from the Einstein equations. This is currently one of the alternatives to dark energy most actively explored. Along with observation of the cosmic microwave background, the quantitative characterisation of the large scale structure of the Universe via redshift surveys of galaxies and clusters and weak lensing measurements are surely the methods that promise the best results in this field, thanks to the large surveys either underway or planned.

FIRST IMAGE OF A REGION OF THE MILKY WAY FROM THE PEGASUS SURVEY

Jan 16, 2023

FIRST IMAGE OF A REGION OF THE MILKY WAY FROM THE PEGASUS SURVEY Led by INAF and Macquarie University, a portion of our Galaxy has been imaged in great detail as part of the PEGASUS survey - a radio astronomy project designed to discover more about the Milky Way

Studying the birth of exoplanets with chemistry

Sep 23, 2022

Studying the birth of exoplanets with chemistry A new study led by Elenia Pacetti, PhD student at La Sapienza University and INAF, jointly uses ultra-volatile, volatile, and refractory elements in the atmospheres of giant planets to develop a unified method to shed light on how and where giant planets form. The new work, published in The Astrophysical Journal, paves the road to the exoplanetary studies of the ESA mission Ariel