There's a Giant Hole in the Universe

In 2004, researchers discovered a cold spot in the universe using WMAP data. This anomaly, found in the cosmic microwave background (CMB), is a region significantly colder than its surroundings. The CMB is the remnant radiation from the Big Bang, and its temperature variations are usually minimal. The cold spot's unusual temperature drop led to various theories, including errors in data analysis and the presence of a supervoid—a massive, less dense region of space. Recent studies suggest the cold spot may indeed be linked to a supervoid, but this only accounts for a fraction of the temperature anomaly, leaving much of the cold spot's nature unexplained.

What was the cold spot initially discovered in?

• The cosmic microwave background

• The infrared spectrum

• The visible light spectrum

• The X-ray background

What is one proposed explanation for the cold spot?

• A massive star explosion

• A cluster of dark matter

• A less dense region of space

• A supermassive black hole

How are voids in the universe typically characterized?

• As less dense and colder regions

• As areas with intense heat

• As regions with high density

• As regions with high gravitational pull

What did recent research find about the number of galaxies in the cold spot?

• It had 10,000 fewer galaxies than expected

• It had 10,000 more galaxies than expected

• It had no galaxies at all

• It had the same number of galaxies as expected

What percentage of the cold spot's temperature drop can be explained by the lack of mass?

• About 10%

• About 25%

• About 90%

• About 50%