COBE, and 35 times its sensitivity to temperature.

ECONOMIST: The universe

For now, aeroplanes and rotors are not slathered routinely with temperature-and pressure-sensitive paints because their sensitivity needs to be improved.

ECONOMIST: Pressure paints

COBE's temperature sensitivity was adequate, its angular resolution was poor, so it could not distinguish the features necessary to gauge the universe's age.

ECONOMIST: The universe