The Cosmic Rosetta Stone

NOV 01, 1997

Microkelvin variations in the cosmic microwave background encode a wealth of information about the origin and composition of the universe.

DOI: 10.1063/1.881995

Charles L. Bennett

Michael S. Turner

Martin White

Today the universe is characterized by a richness of complexity. Structure exists on scales from stars to superclusters of galaxies and beyond. Ordinary “baryonic” matter, in the form of protons, nuclei and their accompanying electrons, is found in stars, diffuse hot gas, cold gas and other forms; the admixture varies greatly with environment.

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More about the authors

Charles L. Bennett, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.

Michael S. Turner, University of Chicago and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois.

Martin White, University of Chicago.