Episode 45: The Thumbprint Of Creation With Ryan North

Posted Mar 28, 2014 by bn

the cosmic microwave background polarization`

LOOK AT THIS FRIGGING THING ABOVE ME! it’s a photo of the cosmic microwave background, and the lines are the polarizations measured by the BICEP2 telescope at the south pole.

note how the lines swirl.

This effect is being caused by primordial gravitational waves: gravitational waves which were generated during the INFLATION epoch when the universe was less than a trillionth of a second old.

up until now, no one was sure if Inflation occurred. There was circumstantial evidence in favour of it, but no one was sure. Well we’re pretty sure now! LOOK AT THAT.

this is what we’re talking about in today’s show and it’s SO AWESOME.

AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING BEST EPISODE WE HAVE EVER RECORDED.

The guest today is Ryan North. are you reading his comics? Because you probably should, because they’re amazing.

you should probably also look up Dr. katie mack, she is a twitterer , and a science blogger and also a mini podcast of her own.

Physicists: Katie Mack, Mike Zemcov

Intro Music: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists 

Exit Music: John Vanderslice 

Transcript: Ep_45_The_Thumbprint_of_Creation

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