but the B-mode may be created by two mechanisms: from gravitational lensing of E-modes; or from gravitational waves arising from cosmic inflation. If B-mode polarization from gravitational waves can be measured, it would provide direct evidence supporting cosmic inflation and could eliminate or support various inflation models based on the level detected. On 17 March 2014, astrophysicists of the BICEP2 collaboration announced the detection of B-mode polarization attributed to inflationary-related gravitational waves, which seemed to support cosmological inflation and the Big Bang, however, on 19 June 2014 they lowered the confidence level that the B-mode measurements were actually from gravitational waves and not from background noise from dust. The Planck spacecraft has instruments that measure the CMB radiation to a high degree of sensitivity (57 nK). After the BICEP finding, scientists from both projects worked together to further analyze the data from both projects. That analysis concluded to a high degree of certainty that the original BICEP signal can be entirely attributed to dust in the Milky Way and therefore does not provide evidence one way or the other to support the theory of the inflationary epoch. See also Notes References External links Inflation for Beginners by John Gribbin NASA Universe 101 What is the Inflation Theory? Physical cosmology Big Bang Inflation (cosmology)