First detection of the power spectrum of the convergence field of gravitational lensing using ACT telescope data [1103.2124].

Gravitational lensing imprints distinctive non-gaussianities on the total intensity CMB map. Computation of the four-point correlation function over the map provides estimation of the integrated mass distribution along given lines of sight.
Moreover, it is remarkable to notice that measurements of CMB lensing are complementary to optical ones because they probe bigger volumes and have the advantage of a precisely known source redshift.

ACT, operating in Atacama desert

First Planck science papers are out ... but CMB-free ... [arXiv:1101.2048, ..., arXiv:1101.1721]

First science results from Planck are finally available. At last ... Well they have been out since January, 11, but let's not be picky about these few weeks ... What is that after all, when compared to more than 15 years of sweating and toiling it took to get the instrument designed, built, tested, launched, and operating ... And moreover so well, as these recent results seem to demonstrate so convincingly.

A first step to reconstruct lensing potential [arXiv:1012.1600]

Somebody has already mentioned on this blog post the importance of gravitational lensing effect on CMB and the necessity somehow to get rid of its signature in a, hopefully soon, measured B-mode spectum to estimate signal due to inflationary processes.

First season QUIET observations [1012.3191]

L'expérience QUIET a observé le fond diffus cosmologique entre octobre 2008 et décembre 2010, utilisant un télescope dédié et des récepteurs à 43 et 95 GHz, depuis le désert d'Atacama au Chili (cf. photo ci-contre).
L'article que vous trouverez ici présente les résultats obtenus avec les 19 détecteurs fonctionnant à 43 GHz, d'une sensibilité de 69 uK/sqrt(Hz) pour l'ensemble du plan focal (durée d'observation : 3458 heures).
Le but scientifique de QUIET est la détection des modes B primordiaux, entre l=25 et l=475.

WMAP is no more ...

Quietly, and almost unnoticeably (though check this New York Times editorial), Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe has lived up its science days. First on Aug, 19, 2010, the satellite  stopped taking scientific data, and then on Oct, 09, 2010 left its anchor point at Sun-Earth Lagrange 2 (L2) point, which it was orbiting around since 2001, to join a stable orbit around the Sun. The satellite's mission has been therefore concluded. Its thrusters will ignite no more ...