Here is the original thread. http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=74330

Was it just dust? Harvard-led team’s cosmic inflation discovery uncertain

For months, astrophysicists have been hoping that data from the European Planck satellite would bring clarity to a Harvard-led team’s measurement that could either help explain the first moments of the universe, or might turn out to be merely galactic dust.

The results are finally out, and so is the verdict.

In March, researchers gathered in Cambridge to announce that they had measured a swirly polarization pattern of light from the ancient universe using a South Pole telescope called BICEP2. This was considered smoking gun evidence in favor of the theory of cosmic inflation -- the “bang” of the Big Bang. Within a few months however, outside researchers had begun to raise serious doubts about whether the groundbreaking measurement might have a more mundane explanation: starlight scattering off galactic dust.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/science/2014/09/22/was-just-dust-harvard-led-team-cosmic-inflation-discovery-uncertain/c9b2ZkOrwJFJNlmNWLMsGJ/story.html

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Thanks Lynn :)

In the new paper, the researchers report that “even in the faintest, dust-emitting regions there are no ‘clean’ windows in the sky” where measurements can be made without taking into account the dust contamination, which is greater than previously realized.

I could DEFINITELY have told them THAT ^ bit... and as for "clean windows"... SNORT! Good one! :)

Stepping beyond my house and out into the universe though - there must be some very disappointed people...

Thanks Lynn :)

In the new paper, the researchers report that “even in the faintest, dust-emitting regions there are no ‘clean’ windows in the sky” where measurements can be made without taking into account the dust contamination, which is greater than previously realized.

I could DEFINITELY have told them THAT ^ bit... and as for "clean windows"... SNORT! Good one! :)

Stepping beyond my house and out into the universe though - there must be some very disappointed people...

Your welcome Annie :-)

I think the results point to no cosmic inflation.
MIT physicist Alan Guth. Not having a good day :(

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Funny, theregister.co.uk gives credit to Andrej Linde for the inflation idea.
Tullio

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