SLAC topics

The early universe RSS feed

What happened in the first moments after the Big Bang 14 billion years ago? SLAC scientists are joining others to search the oldest observable light, the cosmic microwave background (CMB) for clues.

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Physics of the Universe 
Astrophysics and cosmology

Simulation and visualization of the evolution of dark matter in the universe.

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VIA Symmetry Magazine

Cosmic Inflation

Cosmic inflation refers to a period of rapid, accelerated expansion that scientists think took place about 14 billion years ago.

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VIA Symmetry Magazine

Open Access to the Universe

A team of scientists generated a giant cosmic simulation—and now they're giving it away.

Understanding the origins of our solar system, the future of our planet or humanity requires complex calculations run on high-power computers.

Photo - tom abel in srcc
News Feature

The Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel’s report, released today, recommends a strategic path forward for US particle physics.

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VIA Symmetry Magazine

Planck reveals galactic fingerprint

The Planck mission released a first glimpse of data that, later this year, will test BICEP2’s discovery of gravitational waves.

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VIA Symmetry Magazine

The Oldest Light in the Universe

The Cosmic Microwave Background, leftover light from the big bang, carries a wealth of information about the universe—for those who can read it.

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Two scientists at Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory made key contributions to the discovery of the first direct evidence for cosmic inflation...

Image - The BICEP2 detector shown in this electron-beam micrograph works by converting the light from the cosmic microwave background into heat. A titanium film tuned on its transition to a superconducting state makes a sensitive thermometer.
Press Release

Researchers from the BICEP2 collaboration have announced the first direct evidence supporting the theory of cosmic inflation. Their data also represent the first images...

The Dark Sector Lab (DSL)
News Feature

In a SLAC test facility, scientists have set the stage for an experiment that mimics what happens when incredibly energetic cosmic ray particles hit...

Photo - Researchers look over the magnetic coils that will impersonate the Earth's magnetic field.
VIA Symmetry Magazine

The Universe's Earliest Moments

How is it possible to look at the earliest moments of the universe?

The Early Universe
News Feature

SLAC's Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) recently hosted many of the top scientists in the field to discuss the most important...

KIPAC mosaic
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Mock Data, Real Science

In scientific circles, “mock” is not always a four-letter word. To test that they’re interpreting their massive amounts of data correctly, astrophysicists create even...