Space telescope reveals most detailed map of early light in universe
Reuters
2013-03-21
Views 66
A new perspective on the universe.
Scientists revealed on Thursday the most detailed map of the first light of the universe.
Their findings challenge fundamental principles of the Big Bang theory, or how our universe expands, also called Inflationary Theory.
Cambridge University astrophysicist, George Efstathiou.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGE EFSTATHIOU, PROFESSOR OF ASTROPHYSICS, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY, SAYING:
"It may be that we've been fooled, that inflation didn't happen. It's perfectly possible that there was some phase of the universe before the Big Bang actually happened where you can track the history of the universe to a period, a pre-big bang period."
The map comes from the European Space Agency's Planck telescope.
Among the most surprising findings: unexpected large scale anomalies in the sky.
Their presence is inconsistent with current theories of Universe expansion, says Project scientist Jan Tauber.
(SOUNDBITE) (English)
Scientists revealed on Thursday the most detailed map of the first light of the universe.
Their findings challenge fundamental principles of the Big Bang theory, or how our universe expands, also called Inflationary Theory.
Cambridge University astrophysicist, George Efstathiou.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGE EFSTATHIOU, PROFESSOR OF ASTROPHYSICS, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY, SAYING:
"It may be that we've been fooled, that inflation didn't happen. It's perfectly possible that there was some phase of the universe before the Big Bang actually happened where you can track the history of the universe to a period, a pre-big bang period."
The map comes from the European Space Agency's Planck telescope.
Among the most surprising findings: unexpected large scale anomalies in the sky.
Their presence is inconsistent with current theories of Universe expansion, says Project scientist Jan Tauber.
(SOUNDBITE) (English)
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