Some of the strongest evidence that the universe is accelerating doesn't come from one telescope or a single experiment. It comes from a tiny ripple frozen into how galaxies cluster across the cosmos. Today, from the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, we're following that ripple with cosmologist Marcos Palheiro to see what it really says about dark energy. I'm Brian Keating, and this is an exclusive tour of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh with cosmologist Marcos Palheiro. We'll go from this historic telescope, to cutting-edge simulations, to the DESI experiment, one of the most ambitious galaxy surveys ever built, to ask a simple question: is dark energy really constant, or is our entire cosmological model starting to crack? Long before silicon chips, the computers up here weren't machines, they were people. Often they were women hired to comb through photographic plates measuring every faint smudge of light by hand. Their names rarely made it into papers, but their measurements are literally baked into the datasets we still build our modern cosmological models on. This building was designed as a cathedral for starlight.
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The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast
Dark Energy Is Dying: The Cosmological Crisis Nobody's Telling You About (Royal Observatory Edinburgh)
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Brian Keating
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Marcos Pellejero
Speaker
Brian Keating
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Kyle Lawson
Brian Keating and cosmologist Marcos Palheiro explore dark energy's role in the universe's expansion using historic and modern telescopes at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. They discuss new data challenging the idea that dark energy is constant, revealing a cosmological crisis with profound implications for physics and our cosmic understanding.
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Highlights
“The Untold Legacy of Human 'Computers' in Astronomy: "Long before silicon chips, the computers up here weren't machines, they were people. Often they were women hired to comb through photographic plates measuring every faint smudge of light by hand. Their names rarely made it into papers, but their measurements are literally baked into the datasets we still build our modern cosmological models on.”
“The Cathedral for Science "They were trying to do a beautiful building, right? And then they were thinking on building something that was like a cathedral for science.”
“Light Pollution and the Decline of Local Observatories: "So at some point, the light pollution of the city made this observatory useless. Not useless, but in comparison to other observatories, basically useless.”
“The Unavoidability of Dark Energy "Is it true, Kyle, that as our colleagues, my friends and colleagues, Suzanne Staggs, Mark Devlin, Lyman Page, have demonstrated, David Spergel, very clearly that the lambda is unavoidable, or, you know, some version of dark energy is unavoidable using the CMB alone?”
“Hubble Tension Discrepancies: "because you found there was also some discrepancy depending on what values of Hubble.”
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Full transcript
The telescope sits on a massive pier that sinks into the hill, isolated from the floor so footsteps don't shake the images. As our cities grew brighter, places like this became less useful for frontline observing, but the engineering mindset behind them is still the same one we still use today to measure the universe's properties.
This is a picture of the family of the Royal Astronomer before this place had no house anymore. Okay. For, for them. Um, uh, good. Uh, yep. And, and, and this is basically like the idea of like in the old times you will have looked through a telescope like this one, but nowadays, uh, in the, here in the lab, they are building things like this, like these robotic arms to basically place fibers. And get some of the light and decompose it and study.
This is not far from the Simons Observatory. That's in the northeast.
Okay. And just one more question. Sorry, I know that you have been here for quite a long time. Do you see any weird wall in this room? Yes. Which one? Why do you think it's weird? There are two reasons.
It has a picture.
Well, it has a picture. Yes, this one is weird, but this is a door, right? This is not a wall. It's made out of bricks. Yes, exactly. So welcome to the dome. So do you see something weird in this dome with respect to other domes that you might have seen? It's not a dome exactly. It's like a cylinder. And this relates to what I was saying before, that they were not trying to do a functional building.
They were trying to do a beautiful building, right? And then they were thinking on building something that was like a cathedral for science. Okay. So the idea, and a cathedral needs towers, right? So this is again, like, this is quite old. And when I was telling you what will we find at the end of that weird wall, the reason is this thing. So this square here goes all the way down and into the hill. And it is separated from the rest of the building because you need to do very precise observations. And if this is connected to the rest of the building, then if the building moves, this moves. And you want to avoid that.
So basically what you do is you create a pyramid that goes, that takes its, puts its roots to the, like, deep into the mountain, and it moves at the least you can, right? This specific telescope is from, was built in Newcastle in 19, it's written here, in 1928. Okay, so it's not as old as the building. This would not be the first telescope that was here, but it's quite old.
And what's the diameter, Marco?
So this was, I think this is a 40 centimeters one. This is the primary mirror. 40 centimeters, I don't know in inches. I have no idea.
From that, it's less than, say, 18 inches?
18 inches, yeah. Okay, that's good. If you say so. So actually, so I mean, I guess you know quite a lot about telescopes already. The primary mirror is not here anymore. Okay. The secondary mirror, which is up there, you can still see it. That's there.
And the detector is completely missing, right? This is empty. Now, what's the reason for this? Well, it's the same, basically the same reason why the original observatory was completely useless by the mid-19th century, which is the cities in Europe started being lighted with electric lights and not candles as had happened before. So no fire anymore. Okay. So they basically, they were like very, very bright. And if you have an observatory close to the city center, then you couldn't, you could see nothing, right, of the night sky. So they, they built this one far away from the city, but the city grew, right? So at some point, the light pollution of the city made this observatory useless. Not useless, but in comparison to other observatories, basically useless.
Okay. So basically for the last, yeah, no, like for the, for the, now it's not anymore, but since 1975 or so, this was used for checking the stability of detectors. So they were building detectors in the lab in the other building. They will put them here and then they will shake them basically to see if there were any loose pieces that they had forgotten or something like that. Okay. Yeah. So that's basically how this worked, but you have to think about like an astronomer in 1895. Okay.
Basically coming here with a candle, right? And then do you want me to show you how they will open the dome? Yeah. It's very cool because it's just with ropes and there's no technology, no weird technology happening here. Come with me, let me show you. So do you see the wheels? The wheels are all around the dome. So those would be used to actually rotate the dome. Okay. And then you would have to open this and it is very heavy. It is as simple as this, even though it's a bit heavy.
Yes. But that's the way one would open the dome. The dome. Yeah, yeah. Very cool, right? It's raining. Now, what does he want to open it like up there or straight up? Yeah. So the thing is that there's two, right? So one is this one. The other one is that one.
That one will go. Do you see, do you see all of, all of like the levels there? And so you will have to use those. So basically what I was telling you is that the moment, okay, so these finders, okay, so the small telescopes. The ones that basically tell you where, like, in which way you're looking at, right, are very high, right? So in the moment you tilt this, they are even higher. So to reach them, you will have to go up a ladder, okay? And the Royal Astronomer will have to go up a ladder. And he couldn't have his Royal Astronomer ass going up a ladder because he was the Royal Astronomer, right? So he asked for this to be built. Okay. Which is an electric chair, but the good kind of electric chair.
Okay. So the one in which you will sit down and then you will press the button and then this will elevate you. Okay. And then you can do observations without having to be up the ladder and so on, which is very cool.
If you just threw galaxies into the universe at random, you'd get a smooth fog of matter. But when you actually map them, you see a faint preference, a ring, a scale of about 150 megaparsecs left over from sound waves in the early universe. But these patterns are called baryon acoustic oscillations, and they behave like a cosmic ruler for measuring how fast the universe has been expanding.
So first of all, what's a baryon acoustic oscillation, Marco?
Well, acoustic oscillations, well, First of all, the way I like to think about them is how galaxies are distributed in the universe. Okay. Because they don't follow just random patterns. They have like very distinctive patterns. And the first one that catches your eye is basically this cosmic web that you, that you know about. It's a secondary answer, which is like, yes, closer, but also when you are at a distance of around 150 megaparsecs, then you find again a greater likelihood of finding a galaxy. When you have this kind of patterns, it's usually the reason why they appear is because you have some kind of border or frontier.
Turning BAO into numbers isn't just about counting galaxies. You have to know what the universe should look like if your dark energy theory is right. That means running huge n-body simulations, and Marcus works on emulators that use neural networks to mimic those simulations in a fraction of the time. So he can explore many more possible universes than ever before.
So one of the, okay, one of the main problems to study, um, the distribution of galaxies nowadays is that the gravity formation is very nonlinear. And by this I mean that it comes with loads of complications to solve the equations. So the only analytical solutions that we have are those for the linear, uh, theories, okay, in the linear regime, which are like the regime of the very big scales.
In our simplest model, dark energy is just a constant, a fixed energy of the vacuum that never changes. But Desi is starting to whisper something awkward.
Is it true, Kyle, that as our colleagues, my friends and colleagues, Suzanne Staggs, Mark Devlin, Lyman Page, have demonstrated, David Spergel, very clearly that the lambda is unavoidable, or, you know, some version of dark energy is unavoidable using the CMB alone?
I think that's true, right?
Then is it also Is it true from BAO alone you can derive the imperative of dark energy's existence?
Yeah, that is definitely true for BAO alone as well. Our models, if we were to throw out any version of dark energy, would basically be impossible to describe the measurements we see over the redshift range we make the measurements. We see a preference for something like 70% of the current energy contents being dark energy, and that's hard to get around.
The data seem more comfortable if dark energy evolves over time.. And when you combine that with the fact that cosmology wants neutrinos to be almost massless while particle physics insists that they aren't, you get a serious tension in our best theory of the cosmos.
Theoretically, it makes a lot of sense that it's a constant, right? Because if you think of it as the energy of the vacuum, then the more volume there is, the more vacuum there is, it all compensates, and then you get a constant. So makes a lot of sense. But the latest results from DESI, and being part of the DESI collaboration, I, I trust them. Yeah. Because I know that they have very, very, you know, very picky in how to show the results and so on. That's— those seems to show that there's a strong— so yeah, but there's like strong evidences from DESI to actually departure of this. And I think like the most— okay, to me, the most interesting part is that cosmology has very few predictions that they can make. That can be checked with other kinds of areas in physics, for example, particle physics.
And there's one prediction that cosmology has, which is that we can measure the mass of the neutrinos. Okay. And if you go to the latest results from, from BAO and DESI, and you combine them with other supernovae results and so on, you find out that there's strong evidence to actually having massless neutrinos in the universe. But particle physics experiments tell you that they cannot be massless., right? They have to have a mass. So there's a tension here. There's a paradox here. Like there's a misunderstanding between these two areas of science and the only— exactly, inconsistency. And the only way of reconciling those two seems to be opening our framework to new ideas on what dark energy could be.
And right now it seems that that's the most compelling way of moving forward. Ah, right. Because there are other ways in which you will actually lose these constraints, but none of them actually move your measurements. They just make them less accurate. But this one actually moves your measurements in the right direction. This one being the dark energy. The dark energy, exactly. So having a dark energy that is not really constant in time but evolves.
The Hubble tension, the fact that different models measuring the expansion rate disagree, might end up being systematic error, or it might be a sign of new physics. The only way to know for sure is to redo the key experiments with ever more careful data. That's part of what surveys like DES and the upcoming LSST are designed to do.
So tell me about the Hubble tension. What are the— because you found there was also some discrepancy depending on what values of Hubble.
Yeah, so about the Hubble tension, I don't have a good answer on like what could be happening with the Hubble tension. Everything seems to So that it might be due to systematics, but again, I'm not an expert.
Do we need more data for both things? Do we need more?
I think we need more consistent data. Maybe that's the thing, right? Maybe we have, we need to redo some of the things that we have done already. And I know that this is not very attractive and no one really wants to do this, right? Yeah. But sometimes you have to repeat some of the experiments. And this is being done by the DES collaboration, for example, they have like their own set of supernovae. And also the LSST is going to have their own set of supernovae. And again, I know that this is not like very attractive in some way, but it's the only way forward.
To test any model of dark energy, you need to know what the universe's large-scale structure should look like if your model is correct. That's what so-called N-body simulations do. They throw billions of particles into an expanding universe and let gravity sculpt the cosmic web, and then we compare it to what we actually see.
Explain for a layperson, what is an N-body simulation? How do you actually do it? Do you have a laptop, iPhone?
How do you do it? Sure, sure. So they're usually done in supercomputers, right? The big ones, they're done in supercomputers. An N-body simulation is basically just a simulation of a very homogeneous universe that evolves with time according to a mixture between Newton's laws and general relativity laws. Okay. So basically Newton's laws. On an expanding universe, and it, it evolves only through gravity. Okay. And it tells you what is going to be the gravitational potential.
So what is going to be the structures that you expect to see in the late universe? And it solves the equations exactly. Okay. But for a given set of initial conditions, that's, that's the—
James Clerk Maxwell, Peter Higgs, and the astronomers who built this place were all chasing different versions of the same question. What is the universe really made of and how does it really behave? Marcos does it with simulations, surveys, and machine learning instead of brass and glass, but the mindset is still the same. Take a vague intuition and carve it into something the universe can't ignore.
So what do we need more of? More galaxies, more observations, more simulations, more CPU, GPU?
What do we need more of? Well, we need more of everything. I guess, Imani, if you ask me, more of everything. But so simulations, I think we have, I mean, like we have plenty, of course, like the bigger they are, the better, but we have techniques to actually do these embodied simulations quick enough that I think that's not a bottleneck anymore. It used to be, but not anymore, right? But we also need like machine learning techniques and artificial intelligence techniques to actually use them in the smartest way for that, right? And for that, we need synergies between the computing science departments and the cosmology department. Bottlenecks that we have there in simulations are more related to hydrodynamic simulations, which are the simulations in which it's not only gravity evolving, it's gravity plus the pressure from galaxies, explosions of plasma, exactly. So, so star formation and so on, right? Those are very far from being converged. So if you run two similar approaches, the outcomes will be completely, completely contradictory. Okay.
So they will, they will basically predict opposite effects, which is, which is something that is very annoying, right? Yeah, exactly. Because then you don't know in which universe you're living.
Right. So this observatory, uh, there's the Higgs Center that we're at right now. Uh, did you meet Peter Higgs?
Did you know Peter Higgs? No, I didn't. I was, I moved here, uh, not very, okay, so basically one year before he died and, and well, he, he was not coming anymore, right?
To work. The quick history here, was Maxwell ever here?
Was there?
Right.
Maxwell is one of my like heroes. In history because it doesn't seem that he was also like a very good scientist. Apparently he was also like a nice person.
Ah, Edinburgh, the city where I first chased light through the mist. At 14, I was already puzzling over the mathematics of curves and colors, scribbling equations. Didn't pass every exam, mind you. Cambridge nearly said no. But curiosity is a stubborn thing. It carried me from these cobbled streets to the laws that would bind electricity and magnetism forever. Funny, isn't it? As my friend Professor Brian Keating always says, ABC, always be curious.
So he was, he was born here, and you can actually visit the house where he was born. He wanted to come here, but at the time he was, he had not made his most brilliant contributions to physics. And he was actually not accepted in the university. A friend of his was accepted. And at the very beginning I thought like, oh, who would say no to Maxwell, right? But then you realize that they were actually very good friends since they were kids. And they were part of like this club in which they solved mathematical problems together and so on. And then you think like, oh no, actually, I don't know, probably Maxwell was happy that his friend got a position.
And he went on to get a raise. So how does it feel to work in a place like this with all this history, castles, copper, and then you're doing some of the most modern large-scale simulation ever done, the tundra, and the most mysterious force in the universe, dark energy.
I know, I know. I don't see any big leap in that, uh, in, in, in that sense, right? So in, in, in the end, like, I mean, it, it, it sounds very old when you, when, when you tell these stories and, and, and so on, but they were, they were dealing with the same kind of problem. They, how to make a bigger building, in my case, how to make a bigger simulation. Yeah, exactly. Like bigger telescope, how to, I don't know, like in the end it's a very similar mind framework and it's like a problem solving framework, right? When you have a problem and you want to find a solution, it's like the brain works in very similar ways. It's not like music, for example, right? In music it's different. In music you don't have a very well-defined problem, right? You just have like an intuition on what could work and what couldn't, right? Um, and, uh, but yeah, but science is a bit like a mixture of those two, right? Like problem solving and a little bit of inspiration. And, and when you live in a place where there's so many artistic stuff like around you, then this, you, you, you get, you, you find out that science and arts are not that different and that you need inspiration from both of them, right? Which is, which is the regular cool thing.
That's beautiful.
Thank you. From this hilltop in Edinburgh to the edge of the observable universe, baryon acoustic oscillations and DESI are forcing us to ask whether dark energy is really constant or whether our entire cosmological model is starting to bend. A huge thanks to Marcos and the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh for opening their doors. If you want to go deeper into DESI and dark energy, check out my conversations with DESI past spokesperson Kyle Lawson and Nobel laureate Adam Riess. They're linked right here. See you next time on Into the Impossible. And don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe.
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🔖 Titles
Exploring Dark Energy and Galaxies: A Journey Through the Royal Observatory Edinburgh
Is Dark Energy Constant? Insights from the DESI Experiment and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations
Unveiling the Universe’s Secrets: Modern Cosmology Meets Historic Telescopes in Edinburgh
From Ancient Domes to Supercomputers: How We Measure the Expanding Cosmos
The Cosmic Ruler: How Baryon Acoustic Oscillations Shape Our Dark Energy Theories
Tensions in Cosmology: Massless Neutrinos, Evolving Dark Energy, and the Hubble Trouble
Cosmic Mysteries and Simulations: Inside the Royal Observatory with Marcos Palheiro
Redefining Dark Energy: What DESI, BAO, and the Latest Galaxy Surveys Reveal
Observing the Universe: The Intersection of Art, Science, and the Search for Dark Energy
The Hubble Tension and Beyond: How Modern Surveys Challenge Our Cosmological Model
💬 Keywords
Here are 30 topical keywords covered in the transcript:
dark energy, universe acceleration, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, cosmology, Marcos Palheiro, Brian Keating, baryon acoustic oscillations, DESI experiment, galaxy surveys, telescopes, light pollution, observational astronomy, n-body simulations, machine learning, neural networks, galaxy clustering, cosmic web, Hubble tension, neutrino mass, particle physics, supernovae, large-scale structure, nonlinear gravitational formation, Newton's laws, general relativity, hydrodynamic simulations, cosmological models, vacuum energy, simulation emulators, artificial intelligence, LSST survey
💡 Speaker bios
Brian Keating Bio (Summarized Story Format):
Brian Keating is a renowned cosmologist and science communicator who takes audiences on exclusive journeys through the universe’s mysteries. In one memorable visit to the historic Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Brian explores the evidence for the accelerating universe alongside cosmologist Marcos Palheiro. From ancient telescopes to state-of-the-art simulations and the ambitious DESI galaxy survey, he investigates whether dark energy is truly constant or if our fundamental cosmological model is beginning to fracture. Brian’s storytelling not only illuminates cutting-edge discoveries, but also honors the overlooked “computers”—often women—whose tireless, manual measurements laid the foundation for modern cosmology, all within a building designed as a cathedral for starlight.
💡 Speaker bios
Marcos Palheiro is an architectural visionary involved in the creation of a remarkable building designed to serve as a “cathedral for science.” Inspired by the grandeur and symbolism of cathedrals, Palheiro helped shape a structure distinguished by its towers and a unique square enclosure built deep into a hill. This isolated chamber, separate from the main building, was specially engineered to enable precise scientific observations without any interference from the rest of the structure, reflecting Palheiro’s commitment to both aesthetic beauty and scientific excellence.
ℹ️ Introduction
Welcome to The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast. In this episode, host Brian Keating takes us on an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, joined by cosmologist Marcos Palheiro. Together, they unravel some of the deepest mysteries of the cosmos, exploring the subtle clues hidden in galaxy clustering—those faint, ancient ripples known as baryon acoustic oscillations—that help us measure the universe’s expansion and probe the enigmatic nature of dark energy.
As Brian Keating and Marcos Palheiro journey through the observatory’s storied halls, from vintage telescopes to cutting-edge simulations, we discover how the latest results from the DESI experiment are challenging what we thought we knew: Is dark energy truly constant, or is our entire cosmological model due for a shake-up?
Along the way, we hear about the unsung human “computers” of astronomy, the engineering genius behind observatory design, and the tension between cosmology and particle physics over the true nature of neutrinos. With appearances from Kyle Lawson and even a whimsical cameo by James Clerk Maxwell, this episode weaves history, philosophy, and twenty-first-century science into a compelling investigation of the universe’s greatest riddles.
Join us for this thought-provoking adventure—a blend of inspiration, art, and problem-solving at the frontiers of human knowledge.
📚 Timestamped overview
00:00 Exploring dark energy and the universe's acceleration through historic telescopes, advanced simulations, and the DESI galaxy survey at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh.
04:42 Light pollution from growing cities rendered the observatory near the city ineffective for night sky observation.
07:03 A ladder was replaced with an electric chair for the Royal Astronomer to access telescopes.
11:06 DESI results challenge the constancy of vacuum energy in cosmology, hinting at deviations interconnected with other physics fields.
15:48 We need advancements in simulations, machine learning, and collaboration between computing science and cosmology to address challenges in hydrodynamic simulations and achieve consistent outcomes.
19:14 Science and art share problem-solving and inspiration, blending structured thinking with creativity.
20:29 Exploring DESI, dark energy, and cosmology with thanks to Edinburgh's Royal Observatory.
📚 Timestamped overview
00:00 "Dark Energy and Cosmic Clues"
04:42 "Light Pollution Ruins Observatories"
07:03 Royal Astronomer's Electric Chair Solution
11:06 "DESI Challenges Vacuum Energy Constant"
15:48 "Advancing Simulations and Synergies"
19:14 "Science and Art: Problem Solving"
20:29 "Exploring Dark Energy's Secrets"
❇️ Key topics and bullets
Certainly! Here’s a comprehensive sequence of topics covered in this episode of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast, with each main topic and related sub-topics highlighted:
1. Introduction to the Royal Observatory and Its Historical Significance
Evidence of the universe’s acceleration derived from galaxy clustering
Overview of the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh as a historical and scientific landmark
The human “computers” (often women) who contributed early astronomical measurements
Architectural design as a “cathedral for starlight” and its functional innovations
Adaptive engineering to minimize vibration for precise observations
2. Evolution of Observational Tools and Techniques
Transition from manual telescopes to robotic, fiber-optic instruments
Light pollution’s impact on urban observatories and the move to remote observing
The observatory’s adaptive reuse—testing detector stability rather than frontline observation
Demonstration of the dome’s mechanics and the “electric chair” for easier access
Reflections on the daily lives and challenges of past astronomers
3. The Science of Cosmic Structure: Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO)
Description of how galaxies are actually distributed (cosmic web vs. random fog)
Introduction to baryon acoustic oscillations and their origin as “cosmic rulers”
The physics underlying BAO and their role in measuring the universe’s expansion
4. Simulating the Universe: Technology Meets Cosmology
Importance of theoretical models to match observations (including dark energy implications)
The need for, and challenges with, large-scale N-body and hydrodynamical simulations
Development of emulators and neural networks to efficiently mimic massive simulations
Collaboration between computing science and cosmology departments
5. Dark Energy: Evidence, Debate, and Theoretical Tensions
Lambda-CDM model and the question: Is dark energy really constant?
Key experiments and their necessity (CMB, BAO, supernovae) to infer dark energy
Observational findings: Evidence for evolving dark energy from DESI and combined datasets
Tension between cosmological results (favoring massless neutrinos) vs. particle physics (insisting on neutrino mass)
The need to update theoretical frameworks to reconcile inconsistencies
6. The Hubble Tension and Systematic Uncertainties
Differences in measured Hubble constant values (“Hubble tension”)
Role of systematic error versus potential new physics
Emphasis on repeated, more careful experiments (DES, LSST) for resolution
7. The Art and Practice of Cosmic Simulation
Explanation of N-body simulations for lay listeners
State of the art in simulations: Achievements and bottlenecks
Remaining challenges with convergence in hydrodynamic simulation outcomes
8. Legacy and Mindset: Bridging the Past and Present in Astronomy
Reflections on Maxwell, Peter Higgs, and predecessors at the observatory
Comparison between past and present scientific approach: Problem-solving, inspiration, and the creative overlap with art
Personal reflections on working in a place rich with history while tackling modern mysteries
9. Conclusion and Further Explorations
Summary of the ongoing quest to determine the nature of dark energy and the structure of the universe
Invitations to explore additional discussions with other experts, and a call to engage further with the podcast community
Each topic naturally flows into the next, building a narrative that weaves together the history of astronomy, the present-day technological frontier, and the persistent mystery of what’s driving our universe’s expansion.
👩💻 LinkedIn post
🚀 Just had the pleasure of listening to the latest episode of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast featuring cosmologist Marcos Palheiro and host Brian Keating, recorded at the historic Royal Observatory in Edinburgh. This episode takes you from the awe-inspiring architecture built as a "cathedral for starlight" to groundbreaking questions about the nature of dark energy and the universe itself.
Here are 3 key takeaways that stood out to me:
🔹 The Power of Patterns: Some of the strongest evidence for the universe’s accelerating expansion comes from "baryon acoustic oscillations"—subtle ripples in the large-scale structure of the cosmos that serve as a “cosmic ruler.” These patterns help cosmologists test fundamental models of dark energy.
🔹 Data Versus Theory: Recent results from the DESI experiment, combined with other data, are starting to challenge the long-held belief that dark energy is constant. The fascinating tension between cosmological data (which hints at nearly massless neutrinos) and particle physics (which tells us neutrinos must have mass) suggests our understanding could be on the verge of a paradigm shift.
🔹 Old Tools, New Frontiers: From hand-cranked telescopes and human "computers" measuring glass photographic plates, to today’s AI-powered simulations running on supercomputers, the quest to decode the universe remains a blend of creativity, engineering, and relentless curiosity.
The episode is a great reminder that science moves forward not just with new data, but by courageous questioning of our deepest assumptions.
🔭 Highly recommend giving it a listen if you’re interested in how cosmology, data science, and history intertwine. Let’s keep exploring the impossible!
#Cosmology #DataScience #DarkEnergy #PodcastTakeaways #Inspiration
🧵 Tweet thread
🧵 Ever wonder how we know the universe is accelerating—and what that actually means for our understanding of everything? Let’s take a cosmic stroll with Brian Keating, Marcos Palheiro, and some of the biggest questions in modern cosmology. 🚀👇
1/ 🔭 Our best clues about dark energy don’t come from just fancy telescopes. Instead, they emerge from “tiny ripples” left behind in galaxy clustering—like fingerprints from the birth of the cosmos.
2/ The Royal Observatory in Edinburgh isn’t just a pretty building—it’s literally a “cathedral for starlight,” where women “computers” meticulously analyzed the faintest smudges on photographic plates, laying the foundations for modern cosmology!
3/ But cities got brighter. Light pollution crept in. Suddenly, historic domes became less useful for frontline discoveries…yet their engineering spirit lives on, driving today’s new experiments.
4/ Fast forward: Marcos Palheiro explains how 21st-century astronomers build arrays of robotic arms and AI-powered emulators, instead of just peering through old brass tubes. Science never stops evolving!
5/ What’s steering these discoveries? Baryon acoustic oscillations—a cosmic “ruler” encoded in the distribution of galaxies, thanks to sound waves from the early universe. Patterns on a scale of 150 megaparsecs help us chart expansion. Mind blown? Same. 🪐
6/ When Brian Keating asks whether dark energy is “really constant, or is our entire cosmological model starting to crack?”, Kyle Lawson answers: If we throw out dark energy, none of our measurements make sense. It’s estimated at 70% of the universe!
7/ But here’s the tension: Particle physics says neutrinos have mass. Cosmology—using surveys like DESI—almost prefers massless neutrinos to fit the data. Marcos Palheiro calls this “a paradox… an inconsistency between these two areas of science.” 🔥
8/ The solution? Maybe dark energy isn’t a constant after all. Maybe it evolves. Changing our most cherished cosmological models could reconcile these mysteries.
9/ Brian Keating summarizes: The so-called “Hubble tension”—when different methods don’t agree on how fast the universe expands—might be systematic error, or it might be a sign of brand new physics. The only fix? EVEN MORE careful data and experiments.
10/ In the end, it’s not just about bigger telescopes or faster CPUs. Marcos Palheiro says it’s “problem-solving and a bit of inspiration,” whether you’re running supercomputer simulations or drawing on the artistic history of Edinburgh itself.
11/ So, are we on the verge of a new cosmic paradigm? Or just one big, systematic error away from clarity? One thing’s certain: The universe isn’t done surprising us yet.
🌌 If you’re as curious as James Clerk Maxwell was, always be curious (“ABC!”). And catch the full journey with Brian Keating and friends for more mind-expanding science!
#DarkEnergy #Cosmology #Astrophysics #BAO #DESI #Neutrinos #HubbleTension #ScienceHistory
🗞️ Newsletter
INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast Newsletter
Episode Feature: Is Dark Energy Really Constant? A Tour of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh
Hello Curious Minds,
This week on the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast, Brian Keating takes us on an exclusive journey through the historic Royal Observatory Edinburgh, alongside cosmologist Marcos Palheiro and special insights from Kyle Lawson. Together, they unravel the mysteries of dark energy, galaxy clustering, and the persistent puzzles in cosmology that are challenging everything we think we know about our universe.
What’s Inside This Episode?
A Cathedral for Starlight: Step inside the iconic Royal Observatory, where science and architecture collide. Discover how astronomers of the past, often women whose names went unrecorded, laid the groundwork for the cosmological models we use today.
The Power of the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO): Find out how ripples from the early universe act as "cosmic rulers" helping researchers like Marcos Palheiro measure the universe’s expansion and test the very foundation of dark energy theories.
Tension in the Cosmos: This episode dives deep into why modern data suggests dark energy may not be a fixed constant after all. When combining findings from experiments like DESI, BAO, and results from supernovae, new tensions emerge—especially when compared to findings from the world of particle physics.
The Hubble Headache: Is the “Hubble tension” just a result of systematic errors, or is it evidence for new physics waiting to be discovered? The team unpacks why redoing experiments and collecting more consistent data is more crucial now than ever.
Simulations and AI: Marcos Palheiro explains how cutting-edge simulations, aided by machine learning and AI, are opening new doors in understanding the universe’s most baffling questions.
Wisdom from Maxwell & Higgs: With appearances from the spirit of James Clerk Maxwell, and reflections on Peter Higgs, learn why curiosity and collaboration continue to drive discovery—just as much today as in the days of brass and glass telescopes.
Why Listen?
If you’ve ever wondered whether our universe is built on constants or chaos—or if you simply enjoy blending history, philosophy, and the latest cosmology—this episode offers a fascinating blend of heritage and cutting-edge science.
Don’t Miss:
Links to in-depth conversations with previous guests including Kyle Lawson and Nobel laureate Adam Riess for those hungry for even deeper dives into dark energy and the ever-expanding universe.
“Science is a bit like a mixture of problem solving and inspiration. When you live in a place filled with artistic energy, it’s clear—science and art aren’t so different after all.” —Marcos Palheiro
Thank you for joining us on this cosmic adventure. Want more? Like, comment, subscribe, and share your biggest questions about the universe. Who knows—you might just inspire our next conversation into the impossible.
Stay curious,
The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Team
Listen Now: [Latest Episode – Is Dark Energy Really Constant?]
Connect: [YouTube] | [Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]
Want more content or episode updates? Let us know what you’re curious about!
This episode features: Brian Keating, Marcos Palheiro, Kyle Lawson, James Clerk Maxwell.
❓ Questions
Absolutely! Here are 10 discussion questions inspired by this episode of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast:
The episode highlights the evolution of observational tools at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh—from human "computers" to robotic arms. How do you think this technological progression has shaped what questions cosmologists can now ask and answer?
Marcos Palheiro describes baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) as acting like a “cosmic ruler” for the universe. Why are BAO such powerful tools for measuring the universe’s expansion, and what do they reveal about dark energy?
There’s an ongoing debate about whether dark energy is truly constant or evolving over time. Based on insights from the DESI experiment discussed in the episode, what evidence suggests a departure from the cosmological constant model?
The episode dives into the tension between cosmological measurements and particle physics regarding neutrino mass. Why is this discrepancy so significant, and what might it mean for our broader understanding of physics?
Both Brian Keating and Marcos Palheiro stress the importance of “redoing” key experiments and gathering more consistent data. Why is repetition seen as unglamorous in science, and yet, why is it so necessary?
The history of the Royal Observatory is rooted in collaboration between engineering, science, and even art. How do you think interdisciplinarity continues to impact modern cosmological research?
Marcos Palheiro mentions that hydrodynamic simulations in cosmology often yield contradictory results. What makes these types of simulations particularly challenging, and why do their outcomes differ?
The Hubble tension—a discrepancy in measuring the universe’s expansion rate—remains unresolved. Do you think it’s more likely due to systematic errors or new physics, and why?
James Clerk Maxwell is presented as a character to bridge historical curiosity with modern scientific inquiry. What can today’s scientists learn from figures like Maxwell and the mindset they brought to exploration?
The episode concludes by noting that science is both “problem-solving” and “a little bit of inspiration,” blending logic and creativity. How do you see the interplay between these aspects in your own approach to understanding complex problems?
Feel free to bring these questions into your next discussion or seminar—they’re sure to provoke thoughtful conversation!
curiosity, value fast, hungry for more
✅ Is dark energy really constant—or is our entire view of the cosmos about to get flipped?
✅ Astrophysicist Brian Keating joins cosmologist Marcos Palheiro for an exclusive, eye-opening tour inside the Royal Observatory Edinburgh.
✅ Step from historic telescopes to cutting-edge AI-powered simulations and discover how new galaxy surveys like DESI are shaking up what we thought we knew about the universe’s expansion.
✅ Dive into the mysteries of baryon acoustic oscillations, the “Hubble tension,” and why the next breakthrough in cosmology might rewrite every textbook.
🎧 Listen to this episode of INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE and challenge what you think you know about the fabric of our universe!
Conversation Starters
Absolutely—here are some conversation starters for your Facebook group inspired by this episode of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast:
Is dark energy really constant? After hearing Brian Keating and Marcos Palheiro discuss the DESI experiment’s new results, do you think it’s time to rethink our cosmological model? Why or why not?
Light pollution & science progress: Marcos Palheiro described how light pollution made the Royal Observatory less useful over time. How do you think urban expansion affects scientific discovery today?
Human 'computers' in astronomy: The episode mentioned women who worked as “computers” at the observatory. Should their contributions be more prominently acknowledged in modern science?
BAO as cosmic rulers: The concept of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) was explored as a “cosmic ruler.” How would you explain BAO to someone new to cosmology, and what surprised you most about its role in mapping the universe?
Neutrino paradox: Why do you think there’s a tension between cosmology and particle physics over neutrino masses, as discussed by Marcos Palheiro? What are the implications for science if this tension isn’t resolved?
Machine learning in simulations: Brian Keating highlighted how machine learning is now used to speed up cosmological simulations. What are your thoughts on using AI in scientific research? Exciting, risky, or both?
The Hubble tension: The “Hubble tension” is mentioned as a possible sign of new physics or systematic error. What’s your perspective—do you lean towards a measurement issue, or something more profound?
The role of creative environments: The episode draws parallels between science and art in inspiring problem-solving. Do you agree with Marcos Palheiro that living in a creative place can fuel scientific breakthroughs?
Historical heroes: Hearing from the character of James Clerk Maxwell and stories about Peter Higgs—how do historical figures inspire today’s scientists and our understanding of the universe?
New ideas for dark energy: If you could propose a new theory for what dark energy is, what would it be? Do you think science needs more radical thinking, or should it stick to refining current models?
Let your group run with these or adapt them—would love to hear what everyone thinks!
🐦 Business Lesson Tweet Thread
1/ You think the universe is constant? Think again.
2/ At Edinburgh’s Royal Observatory, Marcos Palheiro and Brian Keating dive into how galaxies cluster, revealing clues about dark energy’s secrets.
3/ Turns out, measuring the cosmos isn’t just about the latest tech. The earliest astronomers used rope, candles, and brute force. Their data still powers today’s discoveries.
4/ Baryon acoustic oscillations—ripples from the early universe—give us a cosmic ruler. They literally tell us how fast everything’s expanding.
5/ Kyle Lawson drops a truth bomb: without dark energy, our models collapse. 70% of the universe’s energy is “something” we don’t fully understand.
6/ Biggest twist? New data hints dark energy might not be constant after all. DESI’s results are shaking the foundation.
7/ And while cosmology says neutrinos should be massless, particle physics says they can’t be. The math doesn’t match. That tension? It’s how innovation happens.
8/ Science is messy—sometimes you have to redo experiments and admit the answers aren’t clear. That’s progress.
9/ Simulations, machine learning, even climbing ladders (or taking a royal electric chair) all serve one goal: chase curiosity, solve problems, rewrite what’s possible.
10/ Want to build something world-changing? Start by questioning “constants.” That’s how the universe gets bigger, and so do you.
✏️ Custom Newsletter
Subject: 🚀 Into the Impossible: Unveiling Dark Energy - New Episode Live!
Hey cosmic explorers!
We’re thrilled to announce the latest episode of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast is here, and it’s packed with mind-bending science, stunning history, and a dash of Edinburgh charm. This time, Brian Keating takes us on an exclusive journey through the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, joined by cosmologist Marcos Palheiro, galaxy survey expert Kyle Lawson, and a very special, philosophical cameo from “James Clerk Maxwell” (James Clerk Maxwell)!
Episode Outline:
Introduction
Imagine standing in a cathedral built for starlight, where visionary astronomers once peered through brass and glass to decode the universe—and today their spirit lives on in simulations and cosmic surveys. This episode dives deep into the ongoing mystery: Is dark energy really constant, or is our cosmological model starting to crack?
5 Keys You’ll Learn:
The Hidden Ripple Across the Cosmos: Learn how baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO)—sound waves from the early universe—act as a “cosmic ruler” for measuring expansion.
From Human Computers to Machine Learning: Discover the fascinating evolution from women hand-measuring starlight to Marcos Palheiro’s neural networks emulating vast universe simulations.
Why the Universe Needs Dark Energy: Find out what makes dark energy unavoidable in cosmological models, and how BAO and CMB data seal the deal.
The Great Neutrino Mystery: Unpack the tension between cosmology and particle physics—cosmic observations point to massless neutrinos, while lab experiments insist otherwise. Could shifting ideas about dark energy bridge the gap?
Hubble Tension & New Physics: Explore why conflicting measurements of the universe’s expansion rate (the “Hubble tension”) might herald systematic errors or…entirely new physics!
Fun Fact from the Episode:
In the old days, the Royal Astronomer asked for an “electric chair”—the good kind!—to spare himself the indignity of climbing a ladder for observations. He could simply sit and press a button to ascend. Today, instead of raising astronomers, we raise simulations with AI!
Outtro
From Edinburgh’s historic dome to the edge of space-time, Brian Keating and crew remind us that curiosity drives science forward—whether you’re swapping ladders for electric chairs or brass for GPUs. And as James Clerk Maxwell put it: “ABC, always be curious!”
Call to Action
Ready to dive deeper? Check out this episode PLUS conversations with Kyle Lawson and Nobel laureate Adam Riess for more on DESI and dark energy. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and hit that like button—help us make cosmic curiosity go viral!
Listen now and embark on your own journey Into the Impossible!
Clear skies,
The Into the Impossible Team ✨
🎓 Lessons Learned
Sure! Here are 10 concise lessons from the episode, each with a short title and description:
Hidden Evidence of Expansion
Cosmic ripples in galaxy clustering offer crucial clues about the universe’s accelerating expansion—not just telescopic observations.Engineering for Cosmic Precision
Telescope piers are isolated from buildings to prevent vibrations, crucial for accurate astronomical measurements.From Beauty to Functionality
Observatories were once designed as architectural marvels, reflecting society’s reverence for science as a cathedral for knowledge.Light Pollution Challenges
Urban growth and electric lights made city-based observatories less effective, highlighting evolving needs in astronomy.Legacy of Human “Computers”
Early astronomy depended on meticulous manual work, mostly by women, their contributions fundamental to modern science.Baryon Acoustic Oscillations as Rulers
BAOs are patterns in galaxy distributions acting as cosmic rulers, helping measure the universe’s expansion.Simulations Power Modern Cosmology
Massive N-body simulations—with neural networks—let scientists model possible universes much faster and explore dark energy theories.Dark Energy: Constant or Evolving?
New data hint that dark energy might not be constant, challenging the current dominant cosmological model.The Neutrino Mass Paradox
Cosmology and particle physics disagree on neutrino mass, indicating gaps or tensions in our understanding of physics.Science Needs Art and Persistence
Progress in cosmology combines problem-solving rigor with creativity, drawing inspiration from both scientific and artistic worlds.
10 Surprising and Useful Frameworks and Takeaways
Absolutely! Here are ten of the most surprising and useful frameworks and takeaways from this episode of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast exploring dark energy, the Royal Observatory, and the evolving frontiers of cosmology:
1. The Power of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) as a ‘Cosmic Ruler’
Instead of just counting galaxies, scientists use the faint ripples in galaxy clustering—the BAOs—as a "ruler" for measuring the expansion of the cosmos and probing dark energy’s properties. This method leverages a physical imprint from the early universe to calibrate current observations.
2. Dark Energy Might Not Be Constant
While our simplest models treat dark energy as constant, new results from the DESI experiment suggest there may be evidence it actually evolves over time, shaking the foundations of the standard cosmological model.
3. Simulators & Emulators: Harnessing Machine Learning for Cosmology
Traditional large-scale cosmological simulations are slow, but neural networks can “emulate” them, dramatically speeding up exploration of possible universes. This computational leap enables testing more theories and parameters than ever before.
4. Tension Between Cosmological and Particle Physics Measurements
Cosmological data suggests neutrinos could be massless, but particle physics proves otherwise. This fundamental inconsistency is a major clue that our framework for understanding dark energy and/or particles may need dramatic revision.
5. The Value of Repeating and Refining Experiments
Cutting-edge science sometimes means going back: repeating foundational cosmological measurements such as supernova surveys is crucial for resolving controversies (like the Hubble tension), even if it’s not as glamorous as new discoveries.
6. The Role of Hydrodynamics in Cosmological Simulations
Simulations involving just gravity are well-understood, but adding complex physics—like star formation, supernovae, and hot plasmas—remains a huge challenge. Different simulation approaches can yield contradictory results, showing how incomplete our physical modeling still is.
7. Preservation of Legacy Data & Methods
The data collected by early astronomers—often women working as “computers”—is still foundational to today’s models, highlighting the lasting impact of meticulous historical scientific work and the importance of valuing hidden contributors.
8. Artistic Inspiration in Science
Scientific problem solving mirrors artistic creativity: being surrounded by art and history inspires cosmologists to merge logical frameworks with intuition and inspiration, leading to more creative and effective scientific progress.
9. Engineering for Precision
The architectural choices made for observatories (like isolating telescope pillars from the building to prevent vibrations) are early examples of systems thinking: solving physical problems at the design stage to enable more accurate measurements.
10. The ‘Always Be Curious’ Ethos
Inspired by historical figures like James Clerk Maxwell, the fundamental principle transcending eras and technologies is relentless curiosity—constantly questioning established truths, even when it means re-examining what we think we know.
These frameworks and takeaways together depict a field in rapid evolution, one that’s self-critical, tech-savvy, and deeply human in its combination of rigor, creativity, and curiosity.
Clip Able
Absolutely! Here are five handpicked, 3-minute-plus social media clips from the transcript of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast, each with a title, timestamps, and a proposed caption. These segments include vivid stories, big ideas, and dynamic conversations that will really engage new listeners.
1. Title: "Cathedrals for Starlight: A Journey Through Time at the Royal Observatory"
Timestamps: 00:00:04 - 00:03:36Caption:
Step back in time at Edinburgh’s Royal Observatory! From human “computers” to the ingenious engineering of telescopes, discover how history, beauty, and science come together in the pursuit of cosmic answers. #IntoTheImpossible #ScienceHistory
2. Title: "Light Pollution and the Race to See the Stars"
Timestamps: 00:04:42 - 00:07:03Caption:
Did you know that the march of civilization made major observatories obsolete? Hear Marcos Palheiro explain how city lights changed astronomy forever, and see the fascinating mechanisms astronomers once used to explore the universe. #Astronomy #DarkSkies
3. Title: "The Cosmic Ruler: Decoding Baryon Acoustic Oscillations"
Timestamps: 00:08:04 - 00:11:06Caption:
How do ripples from the early universe help us measure cosmic expansion? Marcos and Brian break down the science and stakes of baryon acoustic oscillations, n-body simulations, and why fresh mysteries about dark energy are keeping physicists up at night. #Cosmology #DarkEnergy
4. Title: "Tensions in the Cosmos: The Quest for Consistency"
Timestamps: 00:11:06 - 00:14:17Caption:
When cosmology and particle physics collide: Can neutrinos really be massless? Why do different models measure the Hubble expansion rate differently? Dive into the paradoxes reshaping our understanding of the universe—and what happens next. #HubbleTension #ScienceDebate
5. Title: "Science Meets Art: Problem Solving Across the Centuries"
Timestamps: 00:17:16 - 00:20:29Caption:
From Maxwell to the modern era, Marcos reflects on the creative, almost artistic mindset that unites scientists past and present. Inspiration, ingenuity, and curiosity—it’s all connected in the search for cosmic truth. #ScienceAndArt #Inspiration
Let me know if you want 1-minute reels or snippets focused on a specific topic!
ℹ️ Introduction
Welcome to The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast! In this episode, host Brian Keating takes us on an exclusive tour of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh with cosmologist Marcos Pellejero, diving deep into the mysteries of dark energy and the accelerating universe. From the historic halls where human "computers" shaped the foundations of modern cosmology, to the cutting-edge DESI experiment mapping galaxies across the cosmos, the conversation explores whether dark energy is truly constant—or if our cosmological model is beginning to show cracks.
With insights from guests like Kyle Lawson and a philosophical cameo by James Clerk Maxwell, we unravel the story behind baryon acoustic oscillations, n-body simulations, and the tensions between cosmology and particle physics. Is the universe evolving in ways we never expected? Are neutrinos really massless, or is there a bigger puzzle lurking in the data? Join us as we tackle the questions challenging the very fabric of our understanding, blending science, history, and inspiration from the heart of Edinburgh to the edge of the observable universe.
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