Nobel Prize By Chance

Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias set out to map galactic radiation but stumbled upon cosmic microwave background radiation, confirming the Big Bang theory. Initially, they thought the interference was due to pigeons on their antenna, but it turned out to be a groundbreaking discovery that earned them a Nobel Prize in 1978. Their findings aligned with predictions from Princeton University, proving the existence of radiation from the universe's formation.

What was the initial expectation of Wilson and Penzias regarding the radiation at a 7 cm wavelength?

• They expected to find no radiation.

• They expected to find radiation from the moon.

• They expected to find strong radiation.

• They expected to find radiation from the sun.

What did Wilson and Penzias initially suspect was causing the unexpected radiation?

• A malfunction in their equipment

• Contamination from pigeons

• Interference from nearby radio stations

• Radiation from the sun

What was the ultimate source of the radiation discovered by Wilson and Penzias?

• The moon

• The sun

• Nearby stars

• Deep cosmic space

What theory did Bob Dickey and his team at Princeton University aim to confirm with their research?

• The Big Bang theory

• The String theory

• The Quantum theory

• The Steady State theory

What prestigious award did Wilson and Penzias receive for their discovery?

• The Fields Medal

• The Turing Award

• The Nobel Prize in Physics

• The Pulitzer Prize