Coffee & Viz: Mapping the Oldest Light in the Universe
This event is part of the Coffee and Viz event series.
Image credit: European Space Agency and the Planck Collaboration
When
-
Past dates for this event
Friday, February 20, 2026 at 9:30am to 10:30am
Where
Teaching and Visualization Lab, Hunt Library
About This Event
The cosmic microwave background (or CMB) is the oldest light in the universe. Over the last ~60 years, studies of the CMB have revealed numerous fascinating results, including the age of the universe. Nearly all of the results come from detailed analysis of the "maps" made by CMB observatories. To the untrained eye, these maps seem like random collections of colors and lines, but delving into the details of these maps reveals patterns that unlock fascinating features of our universe. In this seminar, we will explore some implications of the non-randomness of these CMB maps.
Event Categories
Lectures & Talks Research ScienceFeatured Speakers
Contact Information
Shannon Ricci
(swbrown@ncsu.edu)
Admission
Free and open to the public.
Accessibility
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If there is specific assistive technology or accommodations not listed that would improve your experience at this event, we encourage you to contact the event coordinator. Advanced notice will allow us more time to meet your access needs.