FOR KIDS: New, older age for the universe

Telescope peers back to see the first light after the Big Bang

By Stephen Ornes

Web edition: April 4, 2013

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New map shows energy left from shortly after the Big Bang. The average background temperature is about 2.7 degrees above the coldest possible temperature (absolute zero). Red spots are slightly warmer; blue spots are slightly cooler.

Credit: European Science Agency, Planck Collaboration

A new study of the age of the universe shows that it's about 80 million years older than scientists had previously thought. For a place we now believe to be 13.81 billion years old, that few extra tens of millions of years isn?t much of a change. It's roughly like finding out a friend is actually 13, and not just 12 years and 11 months old. Astronomers hope their new?map, based on temperature (and color) can help them learn more about the history of the universe.

Visit the new?Science News for Kids?website?and read the full story:?New, older age for the universe

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/349375/title/FOR_KIDS_New_older_age_for_the_universe

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