Liam McDaid: The Hubble Constant Controversy

The Hubble Constant Controversy

The Hubble constant is the most inconstant constant you are likely to meet. It’s also one of the most important numbers in cosmology. It tells us how fast the universe is expanding, which can tell us much else — like, the age of the universe, its history, and possible new particles or forms of dark energy. The name comes from UChicago alum Edwin Hubble, who first estimated it in 1929. He pegged it at about 500 km/s/Mpc (kilometers per second per megaparsec), roughly 160 km/s per million light-years. But despite a century of astronomical measurements and calculations, scientists still can’t agree on the exact value.

Our speaker will describe the controversy in laymen’s terms. From the beginning, where researchers had values that differed by as much as 100% to the slight but important gap between methods today, the debate over the value of the Hubble Constant rages. Find out why this is so. Find out why it matters.

Speaker Liam McDaid is professor of Physics, Astronomy & Geology at the Sac City College campus, Bachelor of Science in Astronomy (Penn State), Master of Science in Astronomy (New Mexico State), Master of Arts in History (Sam Houston State), Master of Science in Physics (New Mexico State), and a total brainbox. Since growing up in Philadelphia, Liam always had a passion for astronomy. At New Mexico State, he was fortunate enough to share an office with Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of the planet Pluto! In graduate school he moonlighted part-time as a stand-up comic — “until I had a bottle thrown at me and decided to stop,” he says. Now Liam will guide you through peaks and precipices of the starry wisdom. Don’t miss this presentation.

Event open to the public. Free parking in the lot. OK to BYO snack/beverage, or goodies to share if you wish. Water provided. No entrance fee, but Donations gratefully accepted.