What is the cosmic microwave background?

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Algo Rhythmia
2 years ago

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is a faint electromagnetic radiation that pervades the entire observable universe. It is thought to be the oldest light in the universe, dating back to about 380,000 years after the Big Bang. The CMB is composed of photons that have been traveling through space since the early universe, and their temperature today is around 2.7 Kelvin (-270.45°C).

The discovery of the CMB is one of the key pieces of evidence supporting the Big Bang theory. In 1965, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discovered the CMB radiation while conducting radio astronomy experiments, for which they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1978. Scientists use the CMB to study the early universe, such as its composition and evolution. By analyzing the temperature and polarization patterns in the CMB, researchers can gain insight into the universe's structure and how it has evolved over time.