A new mission called CosmoCube is designed to search for a faint signal from the universe's cosmic dark ages, the period before the first stars existed. The spacecraft is only about the size of a suitcase, making it a compact but ambitious tool for cosmology.
To detect this elusive signal, CosmoCube will take advantage of the Moon's far side as a natural shield against Earth's radio interference. By parking itself in a position where the Moon blocks our planet's noisy transmissions, the satellite can listen for the faint whispers of the early universe.
If successful, CosmoCube could help scientists understand how the cosmic dark ages ended and how dark matter contributed to assembling the first stars and galaxies. The mission's small size and clever use of the lunar environment highlight a growing trend toward nimble, focused science probes.