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Astrophsyics

PhysCOS Science Goals

Expand our knowledge of dark energy

The discovery that the expansion of space is accelerating presents one of the most important scientific problems of our time. The implication that the universe is dominated by an unknown entity, now called "dark energy," that counters the attractive force of gravity, may revolutionize our understanding of cosmology and fundamental physics. Although observations with ground-based and orbital assets—including HST, Chandra, and WMAP—have confirmed the acceleration, we know very little about the most basic properties of dark energy. There is currently no theory based on known physics that can quantitatively explain dark energy. Quantum physics over-predicts the amount of observed dark energy by a factor of 10120. Empirical observations are critical to distinguishing whether dark energy is consistent with Einstein's Cosmological Constant, whether it is due to a dynamic quintessence field that changes over space and time, or whether it is simply a failure of Einstein's General theory of Relativity at cosmic scales. Because it seems to control the expansion of the Universe, we cannot predict the fate of the Universe—Will the Universe last forever?—without understanding the physical nature of dark energy.


NASA Missions Study What May Be a 1-In-10,000-Year
Gamma-ray Burst

On Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, a pulse of intense radiation swept through the solar system so exceptional that astronomers quickly dubbed it the BOAT – the brightest of all time. The source was a gamma-ray burst (GRB), the most powerful class of explosions in the universe. Read more.


PhysCOS News

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Program News and Announcements

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  • 23 March
    Physics of the Cosmos Activities at HEAD 2023 »  Details.
    23 March
    High Energy X-ray Probe Splinter Session at HEAD 2023 »  Details.
    23 March
    STAR-X Special Community Session at HEAD Meeting in Hawaii, 28 March 2023 »  Details.
    23 March
    ROSES-22: Astrophysics Decadal Survey Precursor Science Proposal Due Date Delay »  Details.
    23 March
    National Academies’ Space Science Week 28–29 March 2023 »  Details.
    23 March
    NASA Astrophysics Advisory Committee Spring Meeting 29–30 March 2023 »  Details.
    21 March
    Science Mission Directorate Budget Community Town Hall 23 March 2023 »  Details.
    21 March
    NOIRLab Call for Proposals for Semester 2023B, Including NN-EXPLORE Proposals »  Details.
    21 March
    Call for Proposals for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility »  Details.
    21 March
    Arcus Probe Community Science Meeting 4-5 May »  Details.
    21 March
    NASA SMD Seeking Volunteer Reviewers for Research Proposals »  Details.
    6 March
    First COSI Data Challenge Released »  Details.
    6 March
    Stellar Intensity Interferometry Workshop 22–24 May 2023 »  Details.
    6 March
    Habitable Worlds Observatory hybrid workshop 8–10 August 2023 »  Details.
    1 March
    The AGN Vision Series »  Details.
    1 March
    ROSES-23 Released »  Details.
    7 February
    NASA Astrophysics Division Statement of Principles »  Details.
    7 February
    Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Women’s Colleges and Universities (MUREP WCU) »  Details.
    25 January
    Upcoming Student/Postdoc Opportunities at NASA »  Details.
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