The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is the afterglow of the Big Bang, providing a snapshot of the early universe. It shows tiny temperature fluctuations that indicate the density variations leading to galaxy formation.
The CMB helps distinguish between normal matter, dark matter, and dark energy:
Baryonic Matter: Interacts with photons, affecting the CMB and revealing the baryon density.
Dark Matter: Influences the CMB through gravitational effects, evident in the acoustic peaks.
Dark Energy: Affects the universe's geometry, observed in the CMB.
Recent theories, including those in your paper, explore alternative explanations for dark matter and dark energy using normal physical processes. The CMB remains crucial for understanding the universe's composition and evolution.