By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-997788.mp3
Colchester, VT – St. Michael's College Assistant Professor of Physics John O'Meara and two of his collaborators have been recognized by the publication Physics World in their top ten breakthroughs in 2011. The magazine editors said they are "...the first to catch sight of clouds of gas that are pure relics of the big bang..." and that provides "...a unique insight into the materials from which the first stars and galaxies were born." Professor O'Meara says the elements in the cloud they discovered prove its pristine state.
Professor O'Meara says there are two important implications for scientists and astronomers.
Astronomy Magazine Columnist and WAMC Astronomer Bob Berman says the discovery solidifies the Big Bang theory of the universe.
O'Meara and his colleagues used the Keck Telescope and spectrometer in Hawaii to discover the two clouds of gas.