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The universe microwaves itself. A mysterious signal discovered in the 1960s earned him a Nobel Prize.

In this video, Dianna explores one of the most mysterious discoveries in physics: a constant microwave signal that seemed to come from everywhere in the universe. It turned out to be light from an unusual process that occurred 13.8 billion years ago.

Special thanks to our Sally Ride level patrons: Alejandro Gutierrez, Brian O'Connell, Darkbit, Dave Butler, David Cichowski, Edi, Fabrice Eap, Henning Bitsch, Kenneth Hunter, Margaux Lopez and Vincent Flores.
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Check out MinutePhysics – Why do cans of compressed air get cold?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?vkjraelDMrFQ

If you liked this video, watch these:
Why is the universe flat?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?vMTUsOWtxKKA
How the limits of our galaxy defy known physics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?vc6Eq2sI1NDY

BIG thanks to: Nick Lucid, Katie Mack, Derek Muller, Henry Reich, Thom Ory and Edward Wright for their help with this video!

Thanks to Levi Butner for inspiring the idea for this video by asking me WAY too many questions while working! 🙂

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Creator/Host: Dianna Cowern
Editor: Levi Butner
Writing: Valérie Bentivegna
Research/Review: Dianna Cowern

Sources:
Original CMB temperature and wavelength:
http://www.astro.uvic.ca/jwillis/teaching/astr405/astr405_lecture3.pdf
http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/ryden/ast162_9/notes39.html
ESA Planck references:
http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Planck
NASA WMAP reference:
https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov
Interview with John G. Cramer (via email)
https://kipac.stanford.edu/highlights/understanding-dark-energy-through-cmb-observations
Nobel Prize photo – Alexandre Mahmoud 2018
https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200207/history.cfm

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