The Big Bang, COBE, and the Relic Radiation of Creation (LBNL Science at the Theater)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Berkeley Lab's George Smoot won the 2006 Physics Nobel Prize, together with John Mather of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, for "the discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation." The anisotropy showed as small variations in the map of the early universe. This research looks back into the infant universe and provides a better understanding of the origin of galaxies and stars. The cosmic background radiation is a tool to understand the structure and history of the universe and the structure of space-time. These observations have provided increased support for the big bang theory of the universe's origin. The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) NASA satellite, launched in 1989, carries instruments that measured various aspects of cosmic microwave background radiation, and produced the data for these compelling scientific results, which opened up a field that continues very actively today.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Friends of Science: Chabot Space and Science Center; The Exploratorium; Lawrence Hall of Science; Osher Lifelong Learning Institute; University of California - Berkeley, Albany High School Science Dept; Berkeley High School Science Dept; Oakland High School Science Dept
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 1007524
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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