View source for Charles L. Bennett

== Early Life and Education ==
Charles L. Bennett was born on November 1956 in [[Baton Rouge|Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]. He developed an interest in [[Physics|physics]] at an early age, which led him to pursue his undergraduate studies in the same field at the [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]]. Bennett graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 1978.

[[Image:Detail-56770.jpg|thumb|center|A panoramic view of the University of Maryland campus.|class=only_on_mobile]]
[[Image:Detail-56771.jpg|thumb|center|A panoramic view of the University of Maryland campus.|class=only_on_desktop]]

Following his undergraduate studies, Bennett decided to further his education by enrolling in a doctoral program at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)]]. At MIT, he worked under the guidance of renowned physicist [[Alan Guth|Alan Guth]], focusing his research on the theoretical aspects of [[Cosmology|cosmology]]. Bennett completed his Ph.D. in Physics from MIT in 1984.

== Career and Research ==
After completing his Ph.D., Bennett joined the [[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]] as a postdoctoral fellow. At NASA, he worked on the [[Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)|Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)]] project, which aimed to measure the diffuse infrared and cosmic microwave background radiation from the early universe.

[[Image:Detail-56772.jpg|thumb|center|A view of the NASA headquarters building.|class=only_on_mobile]]
[[Image:Detail-56773.jpg|thumb|center|A view of the NASA headquarters building.|class=only_on_desktop]]

In 1992, the COBE team announced their discovery of anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background, providing strong evidence for the [[Big Bang Theory|Big Bang theory]]. This discovery was hailed as a significant breakthrough in cosmology, and the COBE team, including Bennett, was awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 2006.

Following his work on the COBE project, Bennett joined the faculty of the [[Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]] in 2005, where he currently serves as a Professor of Physics and Astronomy. At Johns Hopkins, Bennett leads the [[Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)|Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)]] team, which continues to study the cosmic microwave background radiation.

== Contributions to Cosmology ==
Bennett's contributions to cosmology are extensive and significant. His work on the COBE and WMAP projects has provided crucial insights into the origins and evolution of the universe. The data from these projects have helped to refine the [[Lambda-CDM model|Lambda-CDM model]], the current standard model of Big Bang cosmology.

Bennett's research has also contributed to our understanding of [[Dark Matter|dark matter]] and [[Dark Energy|dark energy]], two mysterious components of the universe that are not yet fully understood. Through his work, Bennett has helped to quantify the proportions of ordinary matter, dark matter, and dark energy in the universe.

== Awards and Honors ==
Over the course of his career, Bennett has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to cosmology. In addition to the Nobel Prize in Physics, he has also received the [[Gruber Prize in Cosmology|Gruber Prize in Cosmology]] in 2012 and the [[Breakthrough of the Year|Breakthrough of the Year]] award from Science magazine in 2003.

Bennett is also a member of several prestigious scientific organizations, including the [[National Academy of Sciences|National Academy of Sciences]] and the [[American Physical Society|American Physical Society]].

== See Also ==
* [[Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)]]
* [[Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)]]
* [[Big Bang Theory]]
* [[Lambda-CDM model]]

[[Category:American Physicists]]
[[Category:Cosmologists]]
[[Category:Nobel laureates in Physics]]