20. Heat From The Big Bang
In the infancy of our universe, shortly after the cataclysmic event known as the Big Bang, the cosmos existed in a state of extreme heat and chaos, resembling a scorching, ionized gas—a dense and opaque plasma. It was a turbulent epoch where matter and energy intermingled in a searing maelstrom.
However, as time flowed on, approximately 380,000 years after the momentous birth of the universe, the relentless expansion and cooling of space allowed for a transformative shift. The searing plasma began to cool gradually, reaching a point where atoms could finally take shape and form. This pivotal transition marked the birth of a new era in the universe’s history.
Amidst this cosmic transformation, a profound relic of the Big Bang endured—a background of radiation that continues to permeate the cosmos to this day. This enduring remnant is known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). It exists as a faint, nearly imperceptible presence, invisible to the naked eye. However, with the aid of specialized instruments and missions designed to detect microwave radiation, such as the European Space Agency’s Planck satellite and the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) mission, scientists have been able to study and unravel the secrets embedded within this ancient cosmic echo. These missions have afforded humanity a deeper understanding of the universe’s early history, unraveling the mysteries of its birth and evolution.