Addressing <i>H</i> ₀ and <i>S</i> ₈ tensions within <i>f</i> ( <i>Q</i> ) cosmology

Abstract We investigate the viability of f ( Q ) gravity as an alternative framework to address the H 0 and S 8 tensions in cosmology. Focusing on three representative f ( Q ) models, we perform a comprehensive Bayesian analysis using a combination of cosmological observations, including cosmic chronometers, Type Ia supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, baryon acoustic oscillations, and CMB distance priors. Our results demonstrate that most of these models can yield higher values of H 0 than those predicted by ΛCDM, offering a partial alleviation of the tension. In addition, one model satisfies the condition G eff < G , making it a promising candidate for addressing the S 8 tension. However, these improvements are accompanied by mild internal inconsistencies between different subsets of data, which limit the overall statistical preference relative to ΛCDM. Despite this, f ( Q ) gravity remains a promising and flexible framework for late-time cosmology, and our results motivate further exploration of extended or hybrid models that may reconcile all observational constraints.