Answer
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is the leftover radiation from the Big Bang, the cataclysmic event that is believed to have created the universe about 13.8 billion years ago. This faint afterglow, which permeates the entire universe, is a key piece of evidence supporting the Big Bang theory. The CMB provides valuable insights into the origin and evolution of the cosmos, including its temperature, composition, and large-scale structure.