Discovery of Cosmic Echo
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) was inadvertently discovered in 1964 by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, who found a persistent noise distributed evenly in the sky, later identified as the afterglow of the Big Bang.
CMB: Universe's Baby Picture
The CMB represents the oldest light in the universe, dating back to about 380,000 years after the Big Bang when atoms first formed, and photons could travel freely across the expanding universe.
Uniform Glow with Variations
CMB is remarkably uniform, with tiny temperature fluctuations. These anisotropies, observed in detail by the COBE, WMAP, and Planck satellites, match predictions from the Big Bang and inflationary models of the universe.
CMB's Polarization Insight
CMB isn't just a temperature map; it's also polarized. This polarization, mapped by missions like Planck, provides clues about the early universe's conditions and the potential influence of gravitational waves.
Cold Spot Mystery
The existence of a 'Cold Spot' in the CMB, which is larger and colder than expected, puzzles scientists. It challenges the standard cosmological model, hinting at new physics or possibly a parallel universe.
Influence on Modern Physics
CMB studies have influenced modern physics profoundly, supporting the Big Bang theory, inspiring the inflation theory, and contributing to the understanding of dark matter and dark energy composition.
Who discovered the cosmic microwave background?
Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein
Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson
Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking
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