Abstract: Cosmology has now entered a data-rich era in which it is possible to ask sophisticated questions about the origins and evolution of the Universe. Cosmological data are now precise enough to shed light on the fundamental nature of dark matter, probe the physics of neutrinos, and map out the detailed expansion history of the Universe. At the same time, persistent discrepancies between different cosmological measurements continue to challenge our theoretical understanding of cosmic evolution and of the energy content driving it. I will highlight recent progress in mapping out the possible physical scenarios that could be responsible for these tensions, emphasizing the importance of cosmological distances and clocks to our understanding of the Universe. Pending yet-unknown systematics, I will argue that current measurements seriously challenge our contemporary knowledge of cosmological physics.