(IMAGE) University of Cologne Caption The Cosmic Microwave Background (left) was released 380,000 years after the Big Bang, and it acts as a background to all galaxies in the Universe. The starburst galaxy HFLS3 is embedded in a large cloud of cold water vapour (middle, indicated in blue), and is observed 880 million years after the Big Bang. Because of its low temperature, the water casts a dark shadow on the Microwave background (zoom-in panel on the left), corresponding to a contrast about 10,000 times stronger than its intrinsic fluctuations of only 0.001% (light/dark spots). Credit ESA and the Planck collaboration; zoom-in panel: Dominik Riechers, University of Cologne; image composition: Martina Markus, University of Cologne Usage Restrictions none License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.