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Universe Is Beige - Not Turquoise
Ananova ^ | 3-7-2002

Posted on 03/07/2002 6:10:50 AM PST by blam

Universe is beige - not turquoise

Scientists who said the average colour of the universe is turquoise now say it is beige.

They have done their calculations again because their original work used the wrong shade of white.

The assistant professor who led the research says he is embarrassed by the error.

In January, Ivan Baldry and Karl Glazebrook, of John Hopkin's University in Maryland, said that if the universe was viewed from a great distance it would appear turquoise.

They determined the colour by combining light from over 200,000 galaxies.

A computer program should have converted the actual cosmic spectrum into the colour the human eye would see but a bug in it gave them the wrong reading.

Colour experts at University of Rochester in New York spotted the problem and pointed out their software was taking a slightly pink looking colour as white.

Mr Glazebrook told New Scientist: "I'm very embarrassed. I don't like being wrong."

Story filed: 14:21 Thursday 7th March 2002


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 03/07/2002 6:10:50 AM PST by blam
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To: blam
Gee. Wish I had a meaningful job like that- sitting around musing about the color of the universe.
2 posted on 03/07/2002 6:21:31 AM PST by Lil'freeper
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To: Lil'freeper
"Gee. Wish I had a meaningful job like that- sitting around musing about the color of the universe."

Well, all I do is sit around and read about those musings. Hmmmm.

3 posted on 03/07/2002 6:24:44 AM PST by blam
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To: blam
John Hopkin's University in Maryland.

I wonder if that university is related to Johns Hopkins University, also in Maryland.

if the universe was viewed from a great distance it would appear turquoise.

Hmmm. If you find yourself at a "great distance" from the universe, where exactly are you?

4 posted on 03/07/2002 6:29:26 AM PST by Izzy Dunne
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To: blam
A computer program should have converted the actual cosmic spectrum into the colour the human eye would see

Hmmm. Apparently the human eye cannot see the "actual cosmic spectrum"
A SPECTRUM is a range of colors, BTW.

5 posted on 03/07/2002 6:31:27 AM PST by Izzy Dunne
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To: blam
Universe is beige - not turquoise

... and I told my friends from an alternate universe to look me up in the turquoise one... no wonder they haven't contacted me again....

6 posted on 03/07/2002 6:34:56 AM PST by Izzy Dunne
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To: Izzy Dunne
A SPECTRUM is a range of colors, BTW.

More technically, a spectrum is a "range of frequencies" which, if you think about it takes in everything from the lowest of all frequencies (down in the sub-audiable human hearing range) through the highest (like x-rays, cosmic rays and the like).... So, if they were to "average" the whole thing... it would not even have a "color"... that's just my humble, scientific opinion. :)
7 posted on 03/07/2002 6:42:47 AM PST by Rick.Donaldson
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To: Rick.Donaldson
How did they account for the doppler effect on the light frequencies, particularly since not everything is moving at the same relative speed?
8 posted on 03/07/2002 6:44:44 AM PST by linear
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To: Izzy Dunne
Wonder if that's what caused all that Vogon mess with the world being destroyed for a stellar bypass a few years back. Remember that?
9 posted on 03/07/2002 6:48:56 AM PST by billbears
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To: Izzy Dunne
Hmmm. If you find yourself at a "great distance" from the universe, where exactly are you?

Wherever you go.... there you are.

10 posted on 03/07/2002 6:50:09 AM PST by robertpaulsen
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To: blam
Universe is beige

Somehow this doesn't surprise me.
11 posted on 03/07/2002 6:52:37 AM PST by aruanan
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To: blam
The universe is Beige?? A shade of white?? Don't tell that to Charles Barkley.
12 posted on 03/07/2002 6:54:08 AM PST by kjam22
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To: blam
Of course it is beige, if it was turquoise it would have collapsed into a fashion singularity a long time ago.
13 posted on 03/07/2002 7:01:13 AM PST by StriperSniper
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To: blam
Scientists who said the average colour of the universe is turquoise now say it is beige.

That's all I need to know

14 posted on 03/07/2002 7:09:03 AM PST by Kaslin
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15 posted on 03/07/2002 7:11:22 AM PST by theophilusscribe
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To: Izzy Dunne
Hmmm. If you find yourself at a "great distance" from the universe, where exactly are you?

Oh, great, just when I thought I could sleep again at night, you have to go and ask a question like that. I hope you're happy.

16 posted on 03/07/2002 7:11:58 AM PST by Tennessee_Bob
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To: billbears
You're a jerk, Billbears, a complete kneebiter.
17 posted on 03/07/2002 7:14:44 AM PST by Tennessee_Bob
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To: blam
I wish they'd make up their mind - how am I ever going to match my furniture against the rest of the universe if they keep muffing it?

Your original "turquoise universe" thread

18 posted on 03/07/2002 7:18:39 AM PST by general_re
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To: linear
Got me, Linear. I would have asked the same thing, had I worried about what "colour" the universe actually happens to be :) I personally spend a lot of time doing hobby things with robots to explore the outer reaches of the universe. Hopefully, some of my things will make it into space someday. Probably not though. Haha. As it is, I'm happy to spend time with my telescope and look for myself. (Nothing is as pretty as the Hubble photos though, no matter what anyone tells you!!)
19 posted on 03/07/2002 7:37:52 AM PST by Rick.Donaldson
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To: Tennessee_Bob
DON'T PANIC!!

This message brought to you by Megadodo Publications, Megadodo House, Ursa Minor Beta

Belgium!!

20 posted on 03/07/2002 7:45:59 AM PST by billbears
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