Approximately 13.8 billion years ago, the universe underwent a monumental event known as the big bang. Astrophysicist Jo Dunkley is leading important research to unravel the mysteries surrounding the moments immediately after this cosmic creation. A groundbreaking telescope may provide the insights needed to address these fundamental questions.
The challenge with studying the big bang is that we lack direct observational evidence. Instead, scientists rely on the cosmic microwave background (CMB), often referred to as the “afterglow” of the big bang. This faint radiation, permeating the entire sky, represents the first light that could traverse the universe. Patterns detected within this light align with the established theory that the big bang was succeeded by a rapid expansion known as inflation, though this has yet to be conclusively validated.
Dunkley, affiliated with Princeton University, believes that studying the CMB with unprecedented precision will provide the definitive proof needed, particularly by revealing patterns laid down by gravitational waves from the early universe. To achieve this, she intends to utilize the Simons Observatory, a state-of-the-art telescope in Chile, which is nearing its operational launch.
