Wendy Freedman, a distinguished professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, has been recognized as one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2025. Her significant work on the Hubble constant, which measures the speed of the universe's expansion, has earned her this acknowledgment.
Freedman's expertise lies in estimating the expansion rate of the nearby universe. This involves determining the distances of distant galaxies by observing supernovae brightness and using "standard candles" to calibrate this brightness-to-distance relationship. In 2001, Freedman led the Hubble Key Project, a landmark in measuring the universe's expansion. Her recent innovations include new methods to cross-check such measurements with different star types. Last year, she published new findings using data from the James Webb Space Telescope.
Her contributions to science have been widely recognized, culminating in receiving the National Medal of Science earlier this year. Freedman has also been honored with the Magellanic Premium, the Gruber Cosmology Prize, and the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics.
"I am honored to be included in this year's TIME100 list of the world's most influential leaders in 2025, and very grateful for the support that UChicago has given me for my research, and for the collegial and stimulating environment here," she stated.