Related papers: Local Hubble Expansion: Current State of the Probl…
We revisit our mapping of the `Local Hole', a large underdensity in the local galaxy redshift distribution that extends out to redshift, $z\approx0.05$ and a potential source of outflows that may perturb the global expansion rate and thus…
An exact determination of the Hubble constant remains one of key problems in cosmology for almost a century. However, its modern values derived by various methods still disagree from each other by almost 10%; the greater values being…
The standard model of modern cosmology provides a description of a wide range of astrophysical and astronomical data. However, despite this impressive success, several discrepancies have have persisted. Most strikingly, the emerging tension…
The Hubble tension is shown to be solvable, without any free parameter, conceptually and quantitatively, within the approach of modified weak-field General Relativity involving the cosmological constant $\Lambda$. That approach enables one…
The increasing precision in the determination of the Hubble parameter has reached a per cent level at which large-scale cosmic flows induced by inhomogeneities of the matter distribution become non-negligible. Here we use large-scale…
At the request of the organizers, this talk surveys some of the hot topics discussed at this meeting, giving my {\it subjective views} on them. Subjects covered include the present age and Hubble expansion rate of the Universe - {\it…
While there has been significant progress in our understanding of the origin and evolu-tion of planetary nebulae in the last 50 years, there remain several unsolved problems. These include the true 3D morphological structure of the nebulae,…
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST), in its thirteen years of operation, has allowed us to observe properties of the universe humans have been able, until very recently, to probe only with their thoughts. This review presents a brief summary…
The secular evolution process, which slowly transforms the morphology of a galaxy over its lifetime, could naturally account for observed properties of the great majority of physical galaxies if both stellar and gaseous accretion processes…
We overview our recent studies of cosmological models with expansion and global rotation. Problems of the early rotating models are discussed, and the class of new viable cosmologies is described in detail. Particular attention is paid to…
The inadequacy of the present cosmological picture is underlined. The central issue of energy and particles-photons number conservation is addressed. It is shown that consideration of gravitational self energy is paramount both for matter…
Over the past decade, the disparity between the value of the cosmic expansion rate directly determined from measurements of distance and redshift or instead from the standard $\Lambda$CDM cosmological model calibrated by measurements from…
Measuring the rate at which the universe expands at a given time -- the 'Hubble constant' -- has been a topic of controversy since the first measure of its expansion by Edwin Hubble in the 1920's. As early as the 1970's, Sandage et de…
In this paper, we will focus on the advances made in the last few years regarding the abundance discrepancy problem in ionized nebulae. We will show the importance of collecting deep, high-quality data of H II regions and planetary nebulae…
Present day estimates of the Hubble constant based on Cepheids and on the cosmic microwave background radiation are uncertain by roughly 10% (on the conservative assumption that the universe may not be PERFECTLY flat). Gravitational lens…
One of main sources of uncertainty in modern cosmology is the present rate of the universe's expansion, H0, called the Hubble constant. Once again, different observational techniques bring about different results, causing new 'Hubble…
In spite of great progress over the last $\sim 10$ years, especially thanks to HST, a number of exciting open problem still puzzle astronomers working on globular clusters in our own and other galaxies. These problems range from determining…
Basics of standard theory of microlensing are introduced. Results of microlensing observations toward Magellanic Clouds and relations with dark matter (DM) problem in our Galaxy are described. Pixel microlensing observations and recent…
Considerable progress has been made in determining the Hubble constant over the past two decades. We discuss the cosmological context and importance of an accurate measurement of the Hubble constant, and focus on six high-precision…
This paper studies the interpretation of physics near a Schwarzschild black hole. A scenario for creation and growth is proposed that avoids the conundrum of information loss. In this picture the horizon recedes as it is approached and has…