PIPER Infographic
- Produced by:
- Scott Wiessinger
- View full credits
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is a faint glow that permeates the universe in all directions. When scientists look closely, they can see distinct patterns in the light of the CMB called E-mode and B-mode. B-mode patterns change value when reflected in a mirror, while E-mode patterns do not.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
B-mode patterns result from gravitational waves in the universe’s first moments, when it expanded a trillion trillion times after the big bang. PIPER will look for B-mode patterns in order to find these space-time ripples and will help scientists learn about the early days of the universe.

The Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER) is a NASA scientific balloon mission that will study twisty patterns of light in the cosmic microwave background — a faint glow permeating the universe in all directions and leftover from the period following the big bang.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
For More Information
See https://nasa.tumblr.com/post/177980135484/what-can-we-learn-from-the-universes-baby
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.
Illustrator
- Scott Wiessinger (KBRwyle)
Science writers
- Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)
- Jeanette Kazmierczak (University of Maryland College Park)
Producer
- Scott Wiessinger (KBRwyle) [Lead]
Design
- Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)