How Scientists Took a Picture of the Big Bang

About this episode

The episode discusses how scientists captured the cosmic microwave background radiation to create a detailed map of the early universe.

Scientists "took a picture" of the Big Bang by capturing the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, which is like the afterglow of the Big Bang. They used satellites like the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) and the Planck spacecraft to measure this ancient light. These instruments detected faint microwave signals that have been traveling through space for about 13.8 billion years. By analyzing these signals, scientists created a detailed map of the early universe, showing tiny temperature fluctuations. This "picture" helps us understand the universe's origins and how it has evolved over time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics covered

• Big Bang
• cosmic microwave background
• early universe
• scientific instruments
• universe origins

Keywords

• Big Bang
• CMB
• cosmic microwave background
• satellites
• universe evolution

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cosmic Background Explorer, Planck spacecraft

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