In all, the researchers identify five potential patterns or «modes» in the CMB that would signal some sort of special direction in space. (sciencemag.org)
Now, one team of cosmologists has used the oldest radiation there is, the afterglow of the big bang, or the cosmic microwave background (CMB), to show that the universe is «isotropic,» or the same no matter which way you look: There is no spin axis or any other special direction in space. (sciencemag.org)
Now, Daniela Saadeh and Andrew Pontzen, cosmologists at University College London, and colleagues have ruled out special directions with the most stringent test yet. (sciencemag.org)