This mysterious static was a source of profound irritation for both men.
It was a low, steady hum that, like an unwelcome guest, appeared uninvited and refused to leave.
It was 1964. The Cuban Missile Crisis was just two years in the past. The Cold War was in the geopolitical driver’s seat, and satellite communications were front-and-center on the mind of the US government and private industry.
Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson were working on improving how this process worked—cleaning up the signal so that communications could be more effective. Despite their extensive knowledge and the sophisticated technology at their disposal here at Bell Labs, and despite recalibrating their sensitive equipment, double-checking their meticulous setup, the static persisted like a sci-fi/horror movie villain.
No matter where the two men pointed the horn-shaped radio telescope, they kept hearing a static hiss.
The only thing left to do was to climb up on top of the Holmdel Horn Antenna, to get a good look at the physical dish itself. And, there it was:
Pigeon poop.
It was everywhere on the dish! Apparently, the birds had taken to nesting inside the safe, hollow semi-sphere, protecting them from the wind and rain to a degree. Given the sensitivity of the equipment and the signal they were trying to study, any sort of physical object (even something as tiny as a little pigeon dropping) could produce static.
Penzias and Wilson rolled up their sleeves and did what any good engineer or scientist would do: they cleaned up the poop.
Let’s stop for a moment to think about two future Nobel-prize winners climbing up onto a satellite dish in 1964, cleaning up bird doodie. Nevertheless, both men were committed to the important work at Bell Labs, so clean up bird poop they did.
And still! The signal persisted.
It would take a random meeting with a scientist named Bob Dickie for this mystery to be solved, and for one of the most important scientific discoveries ever to be made.
Robert Dickie had a problem to solve.
He was deeply engrossed in the mysteries of the cosmos at Princeton University, just 30 miles down the road from Bell Labs. Dicke was particularly fascinated with the Big Bang theory—and especially one important piece of evidence that would strongly support the theory, should someone be able to find it.
The Big Bang was supposed to be very, very hot—so hot, in fact, that it’s still warm today. This little echo from the infancy of the universe is called the CMBR, or Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation. Because of the expansion of the universe, light from the very early universe should be stretched out into microwaves.
While Penzias and Wilson were grappling with inexplicable static at Bell Labs, Dicke and his team at Princeton were theorizing and searching for this cosmic whisper. Detecting the CMBR would be the strongest confirmation of the Big Bang theory yet, but it would also give them unprecedented insight into the origins of the universe, effectively opening a window to its earliest moments.
But the challenge was immense. Detecting the CMBR required not only advanced technology but also a keen understanding of where and how to look. Unbeknownst to Penzias and Wilson, their frustrating static was precisely what Dicke was searching for – a faint, uniform glow permeating the cosmos, a signal from the birth of time itself.
As Penzias and Wilson grappled with the persistent hiss that defied every attempt at explanation, their frustration reached a tipping point. In a bid to find a solution, they decided to consult the broader scientific community, hoping someone might shed light on this perplexing interference.
An unassuming phone call marked the beginning of a dialogue between Bell Labs and Princeton that would soon reveal the significance of this discovery.
As these two paths converged, the stage was set for a revelation. This chance interaction, born out of frustration and curiosity, was about to uncover a truth about our universe that had remained hidden since the dawn of time.
As serendipitous encounters go, this is a pretty amazing one. Virtually overnight, our understanding of the cosmos was revolutionized. The Steady State theory—the idea that the universe was static and eternal—fell quickly to the wayside, and virtually everyone agrees that the universe is expanding today.
This discovery, stemming from a persistent hiss in a satellite dish, not only reshaped our understanding of the cosmos— it also illustrated how collaborative efforts can bridge gaps in knowledge, leading to monumental revelations. Polymathic thinking and leaving the doorway to the absurd ajar can facilitate some amazing discoveries.
When the unknown becomes known, when our understanding of the way things are is turned upside down—that’s the realm of both science and science fiction.
As is my Friday tradition here, this piece is a part of a celebration of all things science fiction we call Sci-Friday. Science fiction ignited my passion for actual science at a very young age, and I love sharing a little bit of that youthful enthusiasm with you here.
Last week, I gave some examples of sci-fi subgenres that encourage you to think. The week before that, I wrote about nanotechnology (and how sci-fi introduced me to the concept).
As always, I want to call your attention to the other writers who are also doing something today. If you want to hear recommendations about what to watch or read, look no further:
, , - I’ve worked with all three of these folks on projects and pieces and enjoyed it every time. and focus on horror with a sci-fi twist, and makes this project her own with the juncture of mental health and sci-fi.Welcome
this week, and welcome back , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and —passionate sci-fi fans who also happen to be good writers. Odds are very good that they’ll be putting out a recommendation or two, or opining about sci-fi over on Notes. Check them out!And, thanks for reading today. What sorts of serendipitous discoveries are you aware of? Did you already know the story of the CMBR and pigeon poop?
I didn't know the meme you put in this piece included Carl Weathers. Serendipity that I should finally get to this piece in my inbox right after he passed away...
No to discoveries,, no to the droppings story. Interesting like penicillin history.