As an observational science, astrophysics traditionally relies on correlations to validate theoretical models. However, correlations alone cannot determine the causal structure and direction among variables, or reveal unobserved confounding variables. Causal discovery—which infers causal relationships from purely observational data—addresses this gap. While relatively new to astrophysics, efforts to infer causal structures directly from astronomical data are now emerging.
In my talk, I will use causal discovery to address three questions across different scales in astrophysics: Does the colors of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) reflect TNO formation conditions or subsequent evolution? Why hot Jupiters are inflated? How to get the birth radii of stars in the Milky Way? What is the causal connection between galaxy and SMBH coevolution?
