newscientist.com: By David Shiga

Colossal structures larger than the visible universe – forged during the period of cosmic inflation nearly 14 billion years ago – may be responsible for a strange pattern seen in the big bang’s afterglow, says a team of cosmologists. If confirmed, the structures could provide precious information about the universe’s earliest moments.

In the first instant after its birth, the universe is thought to have experienced a rapid growth spurt called inflation. During this period, space itself expanded faster than the speed of light. [ read more ]