Research on CMB Radiation

Why in news?

Indian space scientists are conducting experiments on Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation in Timbaktu village.

What are CMB radiation?

• Indian scientists are conducting experiments to confirm occurrence of unusual space signals in the spectrum of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation.
• CMB is an all-pervasive but weak electromagnetic radiation from the early universe when matter was still to be formed.
• This radiation does not come from any of the objects that are observed in the universe, like stars or galaxies, it comes from things that are not formed yet.
• CMB is a relic from an early universe when matter and radiation were still in thermodynamic equilibrium.
• Thus when it is observed it is similar to looking at the period in universe after the big bang and before the present objects were formed.

What is the significance of this research?

• Ever since its discovery, CMB has been an invaluable source of information on the early universe.
• From its properties, scientists have inferred that the early universe was filled with hot, dense and extremely uniform gas, mostly hydrogen.
• The first stars were formed when blobs of these gases fused under the influence of gravity emanating visible light commonly referred as cosmic dawn.
• The present theory of origin of universe has the probability of being proved practically with the findings derived by observing CMB radiation.

Why the scientists chose Timbaktu for their tests?

• Timbaktu is a small hamlet in Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh, It is surrounded by hills with unusual rock formations.
• Its location has least contact with the outside world and minimal footprints of modern digital technology.
• Air present in this place is clean and the sky is clear, making it one of the very few places which practically has no noise.
• Due to these properties, this place is described as Radio Quiet by space scientists hunting for faint electromagnetic signals from the sky.

Source: The Indian Express