Image: David Spergel of Princeton University and the Simons Foundation. Photographer: Samuel Avraham

The program opened with Mark Pearce’s discussion on advancements in X-ray polarimetry, emphasizing the IXPE satellite and the XL-Calibur balloon experiment. These tools have now established polarimetry as a reliable method to study astrophysical sources.

Helena Faustino Vieira presented recent findings from high-resolution ALMA and JWST observations of galaxies within 20 Mpc. Her research focuses on refining models of star formation through detailed imaging of nearby galactic environments.

Stephen Thorp introduced "Pop-cosmos," a generative model designed to simulate galaxy catalogs. The model is particularly relevant for handling the large datasets expected from upcoming surveys like those from the Vera Rubin Observatory.

Description: The audience had many opportunities to engage with the speakers throughout the day. Photographer: Samuel Avraham.

Marcus Högås addressed the "Hubble tension," the ongoing discrepancy in cosmic expansion rate measurements. His talk reviewed possible systematic errors and theoretical solutions, highlighting the need for careful analysis and interpretation of data.

Other presentations throughout the day included discussions on cosmic voids, cosmological phase transitions, and analyses of dwarf galaxies to better understand dark matter clustering.

A key highlight was the lecture delivered by David Spergel, Breakthrough Prize Laureate, emeritus faculty at Princeton University and the President of the Simons Foundation. Spergel presented the final data release from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), covering approximately 19,000 square degrees of sky. He detailed how these results strengthen constraints on fundamental cosmological parameters such as neutrino masses and the presence of additional relativistic particles, reaffirming the consistency of the standard ΛCDM cosmological model.

Image: the OKC Day participants also had the pleasure of visiting Wisdome, a 3D domed cinema showcasing the universe. Photographer: Samuel Avraham.

The event concluded with a panel session discussing promising future directions, including gravitational-wave observations, real-time data analysis techniques, and cross-disciplinary research collaborations. The consensus was that future progress in cosmology will increasingly depend on effective integration of observational data, theoretical frameworks, and computational methods.