Astronomer Francesca Matteucci on science, art, and the future

Francesca Matteucci, born in Rome in 1953, is an Italian astrophysicist and professor at the University of Trieste, a member of the Accademia dei Lincei, and former director of the Department of Astronomy and vice director of the Department of Physics at the University of Trieste, as well as president of the INAF Scientific Council. In an interview, she discusses her inspiration from music, particularly Mozart and Verdi, and the link between physics and music. Her most representative project is a 1986 model of the chemical evolution of the Milky Way, focusing on supernovae that produce most of the iron. She identifies Padua and Munich (European Southern Observatory) as her 'Genius Loci' for stimulating environments. She emphasizes the importance of the past in science, stating that the future has an 'ancient heart.' For young scientists, she advises following passion and enjoyment. Regarding the concept of the sacred, she sees it as moral values beyond religion. She imagines a future dominated by AI, space colonization, and extended lifespans, but warns of irrationality leading to self-destruction. The interview is part of the 'Futuro Antico' series on Artribune.