Universe Is Beige - Not Turquoise

Ananova ^ | 3-7-2002

[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

[Lil'freeper]

Gee. Wish I had a meaningful job like that- sitting around musing about the color of the universe.

[blam]

"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.

[Izzy Dunne]

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?

[Izzy Dunne]

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.

[Izzy Dunne]

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....

[Rick.Donaldson]

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. :)

[linear]

How did they account for the doppler effect on the light frequencies, particularly since not everything is moving at the same relative speed?

[billbears]

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?

[robertpaulsen]

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

Wherever you go.... there you are.

[aruanan]

Universe is beige

Somehow this doesn't surprise me.

[kjam22]

The universe is Beige?? A shade of white?? Don't tell that to Charles Barkley.

[StriperSniper]

Of course it is beige, if it was turquoise it would have collapsed into a fashion singularity a long time ago.

[Kaslin]

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

That's all I need to know

[theophilusscribe]

Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to:
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794

Send PayPal direct to JimRob@psnw.com

[Tennessee_Bob]

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.

[Tennessee_Bob]

You're a jerk, Billbears, a complete kneebiter.

[general_re]

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

[Rick.Donaldson]

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!!)

[billbears]

DON'T PANIC!!

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

Belgium!!