Project Cosmic Microwave Background-Bharat

Mains Paper 3: Science & Technology | Achievement of Indians in science & technology

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: CMB

Mains level: CMB-Bharat will be path breaking project along with various ongoing projects such as LIGO etc.

CMB stands for Cosmic Microwave Background, and the scientific space project CMB-Bharat has been presented as a proposal to ISRO and is under consideration.
In the workshop, project CMB-Bharat, which could help us listen to the faintest murmurs of the early universe, was discussed.

CMB-Bharat

CMB-Bharat is a proposal for comprehensive next generation Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) mission in international collaboration with major Indian contribution.
This referred to quantum gravitational waves, which are different from what LIGO detectors had observed that were classical in nature.

What CMB actually means?

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is thought to be leftover radiation from the Big Bang, or the time when the universe began.
As the theory goes, when the universe was born it underwent a rapid inflation and expansion.
The universe is still expanding today, and the expansion rate appears different depending on where you look.
The CMB represents the heat left over from the Big Bang.
We can’t see the CMB with your naked eye, but it is everywhere in the universe.
It is invisible to humans because it is so cold, just 2.725 degrees above absolute zero (minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 273.15 degrees Celsius.)
This means its radiation is most visible in the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Way Forward

CMB-Bharat mission presents an unique opportunity for India to take the lead on prized quests in fundamental science in a field that has proved to be a spectacular success.
However there are no active proposals for a comprehensive next generation CMB space mission at this time.