Modeling the Cosmos: Frontiers in Philosophy of Astrophysics and Cosmology
DETAILS
CALL FOR PAPERS
Modeling the Cosmos: Frontiers in Philosophy of Astrophysics and Cosmology
Journal: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission Deadline: 31 August 2026
Introduction
The rapid move to data-driven practice, the increasing reliance on simulation-dependent inferences, and the expansion to multi-messenger astrophysics have made the philosophy of cosmology and astrophysics a lively, fast-moving area. In the era of "precision cosmology," unprecedented amounts of data about the universe and its structure are now gathered and analyzed — thanks to new telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope and detectors like LIGO.
New missions will expand observations and understanding of the universe at different scales — including Euclid's weak-lensing and clustering maps, LSST's time-domain surveys, DESI's precision spectroscopy, JWST's deep high-redshift observations, multi-messenger inputs such as gravitational-wave standard sirens, and forthcoming CMB measurements.
Yet major puzzles remain — including the Hubble tension, the measurement and assessment of the role of the dark sector, and more foundational problems concerning the status of inflation and the quest for a theory of quantum gravity.
Scope & Significance
This Special Issue aims to provide novel insight into modeling practices and validation strategies in cosmology and astrophysics from historical and/or philosophical perspectives. It invites contributions addressing the epistemological, methodological, and foundational dimensions of contemporary astrophysics and cosmology — exploring how simulation, data-driven inference, and multi-messenger approaches are reshaping scientific explanation, representation, and prediction.
Key Research Questions
The editors invite contributions addressing questions including, but not limited to:
What do simulations represent — and how do astrophysics and cosmology change our epistemology?
How do explanations work when inference is distributed across instruments and algorithms?
What role and status do models of explanation for the early universe have in current cosmology?
What are the implications of current challenges involving the Hubble tension and the study of the dark sector?
Is there continuity with the past in the shaping of scientific representation, explanation, and prediction in strongly data-driven fields?
What is the impact — or why is there no impact — of data-driven research on the foundations of scientific theories such as general relativity and the philosophy of spacetime?
Is the nature of evidence and/or discovery in astrophysics and cosmology different when it comes to "precision cosmology"?
What is the role of AI techniques in cosmology?
List of Topic Areas
Manuscripts are invited on themes including, but not limited to:
Philosophy of simulation in astrophysics and cosmology
Epistemology of precision cosmology — data, evidence, and discovery
Scientific explanation in cosmology — models, mechanisms, and causal accounts
The Hubble tension — philosophical and foundational implications
The dark sector — measurement, modeling, and scientific status
Inflation and early universe models — status and validation
Quantum gravity — foundational challenges and philosophical perspectives
Multi-messenger astrophysics — epistemology of distributed inference
AI and machine learning in cosmology — roles, risks, and philosophical implications
History and philosophy of general relativity and spacetime theories
Representation and prediction in strongly data-driven astrophysical fields
Telescope and detector technology — JWST, LIGO, Euclid, and their epistemological implications
Continuity and change in cosmological modeling practices
Philosophy of big data in astronomy and cosmology
Scientific theories, models, and the interplay between observation and simulation
Guest Editors
Dr. Silvia De Bianchi (Contact for Topic Inquiries) University of Milan, Italy Email: silvia.debianchi@unimi.it
Dr. Marco Forgione (Contact for Topic Inquiries) University of Milan, Italy Email: marco.forgione@unimi.it
Dr. Federico Viglione University of Milan, Italy
Key Deadlines
Manuscript Submission Opens: 1 March 2026 Manuscript Submission Deadline: 31 August 2026
Submission Guidelines
Submit your manuscript via Editorial Manager, the official online submission system for Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. When submitting, select Article Type:
"VSI: Modeling the Cosmos"
All submissions deemed suitable will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon editorial acceptance, articles will be published in the latest regular issue and simultaneously presented on the Special Issue webpage.
Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal can be found at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/studies-in-history-and-philosophy-of-science
All submissions must be original and must not be under review elsewhere at the time of submission.
About the Journal
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, published by Elsevier, is a peer-reviewed journal with a CiteScore of 3.2 and Impact Factor of 1.8. It supports open access publishing and is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research at the intersection of history and philosophy of science — providing an international platform for scholars exploring the conceptual, historical, and methodological foundations of scientific disciplines across the natural and social sciences.
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