`Big-Bang cosmology, the uncertain chain that links speculation to speculation in order to prove speculation.'Let it Bang, Chronicles of Modern Cosmology
– D. Soares, unpublished
I discuss the genesis of the Microwave Background Radiation (MBR) becoming a cornerstone foundation of Big Bang cosmology. I argue that the co-optation of MBR by bigbangers was the demonstration of the power of a group, rather than a sensible and scientifically motivated decision. Related issues are discussed.
Following the discovery of the Microwave Background Radiation, Penzias & Wilson published their findings in the 142nd volume of ApJ, in 1965. An accompanying paper, by Dicke et al. claimed the cosmic nature of the phenomenon, establishing therefrom the key foundation of the Big Bang cosmological model. They have in fact appropriated themselves of the discovery without leaving any room for other tentative interpretations of the finding. Symptomatically -- as long as Dicke and collaborators were eager to take over the discovery in favor of their ideas --, their paper with a possible theoretical interpretation was published before Penzias & Wilson's report in ApJ. The observations were referred to as private communication. Dicke et al. are at page 414 and Penzias & Wilson at page 419 of ApJ's volume 142. The papers' titles also give the mood of both stories: Dicke et al. named theirs Cosmic Blackbody Radiation -- a theory, of course -- while Penzias & Wilson's paper was entitled A Measurement of Excess Antenna Temperature at 4080 Mc/s -- observations seeking for interpretation.
They -- Penzias & Wilson -- have discovered that, besides the smooth and isotropic blue background everyone could just see, the sky had also a smooth microwave background. Indeed, it was brilliantly confirmed many years later by COBE, NASA's background explorer satellite.
But why, at that time, immediately cosmic?
When in 1978 Penzias & Wilson were granted the Nobel prize for their discovery, the word ``cosmic'' was there, in the Nobel statement. A political victory for the Big Bang cosmology. No science implied but political strength acting on the Nobel committee. The first victory in the political scenario of modern science achieved by the Big Bang theory. At that time it was rather premature the ``cosmic'' attribute to the new finding. Nevertheless, it was sort of an ``official'' -- the Nobel committee -- approval of Big Bang cosmologists' interpretation of the background radiation, and one which would become the theory's cornerstone.
What seemed to be in scene was a tour de force between the Princeton group (Dicke et al.) and the Bell Labs scientists to get the credit for the great -- presumably cosmological -- discovery. A fight between giants: Princeton versus Bell. The Princeton group was in the end partially vindicated because the Nobel prize went to Penzias & Wilson for the discovery but they managed to get the word ``cosmic'' included in the Nobel statement: ``for their discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation.'' Without any doubt, a major triumph for a theory on the fighting against science-giant Fred Hoyle and collaborators with their steady-state cosmology.
More was to come though.
In 2006, the descendants of the defeated group in the discovery of the MBR finally achieved their desired goal: the establishment's consecration of the Big Bang theory and its dogmas. The Nobel prize in Physics of the year went to their satellite: COBE.
The endeavor of COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer) was extraordinary and the investigators which are responsible for it -- physicists John Mather and George Smoot -- were quite important in the tremendous scientific effort that involved hundreds of technicians, engineers, physicists, astronomers, etc.
But it represents a technological development about something already known, the Microwave Background Radiation , whose discovery has already earned a Nobel prize in 1978.
It is clearly a development of technological nature and of experimental improvement. There is nothing new as far as physics is concerned. Would not anyone in sane conscience expect to find inhomogeneities in the microwave background? Would it be a Nobel-like discovery to find them in the isotropic blue background of our daylight sky?
There is no reason to believe that the MBR is of cosmological origin except if one is willing to accept a coordinated set of theoretical speculations with no firm observational bases whatsoever.
The full story of the MBR imbroglio is still to be told. Let us wait because the best of it is certainly being nurtured. Crucial observational tests include: