NASA telescope will study what put the bang in the big bang - The Washington Post

In a quest to understand the origins of the universe, NASA plans to launch a new space telescope named SPHEREx. This telescope is not just another addition to the array of space-based observatories. Instead, it carries an ambitious objective, aiming to shed light on the fundamental question - what put the 'bang' in the big bang? The SPHEREx telescope will explore the early phases of the universe's existence and gather data on cosmic inflation, a theoretical period of extremely rapid expansion of the universe following the big bang.

The Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) is a planned two-year mission funded by NASA. The mission's primary objective is to conduct a survey of the entire sky in near-infrared light, which is just outside the range of human vision. It will be the first mission to do this, creating a map of the sky that can be used for decades. The mission will also help scientists understand the origins of the universe and the underlying physics of the big bang.

SPHEREx will work by splitting the near-infrared light into individual colors, much like a prism creates a rainbow from sunlight. This will enable the telescope to detect the specific wavelengths of light that molecules, such as water and organic molecules, absorb. Thus, SPHEREx will be able to detect the presence of these molecules in distant galaxies, providing new insights into the cosmic history of star formation.

The mission also aims to gather data on cosmic inflation, the theory that the universe expanded at an exponential rate in the first tiny fraction of a second after the big bang. By studying the background light left over from the big bang, SPHEREx could find patterns that were imprinted during this rapid inflation, providing crucial evidence to support or refute this theory.

Furthermore, SPHEREx will look for the faint glow of galaxies that formed just a few hundred million years after the big bang. These observations will help to chart the history and structure of the universe, and could potentially lead to groundbreaking discoveries about the origins of galaxies and stars.

The concept of cosmic inflation is a cornerstone of modern cosmology. It refers to a period of extremely rapid expansion of the universe in the first tiny fraction of a second after the Big Bang. This theory, proposed by physicist Alan Guth in the 1980s, seeks to explain some of the large-scale properties of the universe, such as its homogeneity and isotropy.

Yet, despite its central role in our understanding of the universe, many aspects of cosmic inflation remain mysterious. For instance, what drove this rapid expansion? What are the exact properties of the inflationary period? These are questions that have puzzled scientists for decades.

The SPHEREx mission offers a unique opportunity to probe these questions. By mapping the cosmic microwave background (CMB) — the afterglow of the Big Bang — in unprecedented detail, scientists hope to uncover clues about the physics of the very early universe. In particular, the mission will look for signatures of primordial gravitational waves, ripples in the fabric of spacetime that are predicted to have been generated during the inflationary period.

If detected, these waves could provide a direct test of the inflationary theory and potentially reveal new physics. As such, the SPHEREx mission could be a game-changer in our quest to understand the origins and evolution of the universe.

SPHEREx, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer, is a planned two-year mission with a primary objective to understand the conditions that led to the Big Bang. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California leads the mission.

According to Dr. James Bock, the principal investigator of the SPHEREx mission at Caltech, "SPHEREx will survey the sky in optical as well as near-infrared light which, though not visible to the human eye, serves as a powerful tool for answering cosmic questions."

Dr. Bock further explains, "It will examine a wide range of wavelengths, or colors, that will allow us to identify galaxies that are too faint for humans to see, and will help us trace the formation of galaxies over cosmic time."

SPHEREx will also study both the physics of the early universe and the distribution of galaxy clusters, which are the most massive structures in the universe. Additionally, it will provide data on more than 300 million galaxies, as well as more than 100 million stars in our own Milky Way.

In summary, the SPHEREx space telescope is set to embark on a mission of cosmic exploration, aiming to delve into the mysteries of the universe's origins and the enigmatic cosmic inflation. It is a testament to the boundless curiosity and innovative spirit of humanity, seeking answers to the most profound questions about our existence.

With its potential to gather invaluable data on what put the "bang" in the big bang, SPHEREx could revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it. As we await its launch, it reminds us that our quest for knowledge is as vast and enduring as the universe itself.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025/03/01/nasa-sphexex-space-telescope/