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Physics LibreTexts

18.0.58: wiu_16_cosmic_timeline

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Early Universe
atter Dominated Universe
Modern Universe
Timeline
Timeline Type:
Log
Linear
Beginning of the Universe
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
0 sec
Description
Time and Space began. It was a time of extremely high energy and temperature everywhere in the universe.
GUT Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-35 sec
Description
GUT stands for Grand Unified Theory. At this point, the electromagnetic, weak and strong forces were unified. After this time, the strong force becomes distinct. The temperature of the Universe is 1e27K.
Electroweak Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-12 sec
Description
At this point only the electromagnetic and weak forces were unified. After this time the weak force becomes distinct and all four forces behave differently. The Universe is full of elementary particles, such as quarks, leptons, and photons. The temperature of the Universe is 1e15K.
Baryon Annihiliation
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-4 sec
Description
Protons and anti-protons annihilate, leaving much more matter in the universe than anti-matter. Many photons are created. The temperature of the Universe is 1e12K.
Electron-Positron Annihiliation
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
10 sec
Description
Electrons and their anti-particles, positrons, annihilate, again leaving much more matter in the Universe than anti-matter and creating more photons. The temperature of the Universe is 4e9 K.
Planck Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-43 sec
Description
This is the earliest era we can probe using the laws of physics. The temperature and density were so high that the four fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetic, strong, and weak) nature were unified and behaved as one. After this time gravity behaves differently than the other three forces. the temperature is 1e32K.
Inflation Ends
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-32 sec
Description
From a time starting around or before 1e-35 sec and ending at 1e-32 sec, the Universe likely expanded exponentially rapidly for a brief period of time before setting into a more gradual expansion.
Quark Confinement
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-6 sec
Description
Quarks combine to form protons, neutrons, other particles and their anti-particles. The temperature of the Universe is 1e13K
Neutrino Decoupling
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1 sec
Description
The Universe is no longer dense enough for neutrions to interact strongly with matter. Now they can travel great distances without interacting. The temperature of the Universe is about 1e10 K.
Nucleosynthesis
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1 min - 3 min
Description
The temperature of the Universe is about 10e9 K, just right for nuclear fusion to occur. The lightest elements: hydrogen, helium, and lithium are produced at this time.
Matter-Radiation Equality
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
50,000 yrs
Description
The density of matter and radiation are equal at this point After this point, matter becomes dominant over radiation. The Universe is a plasma that includes hydrogen and helium nuclei, electrons, and photons. The temperature of the Universe is 10,000 K.
Large-scale Structure is Growing
x
credit CLUES team and C.
Henze, N.McCurdy, J.Primack
Time
500,000 yrs
Description
The cosmic web is forming via gravitational attraction. Regions of space that will eventually form galaxies are about 0.5% more dense than their surroundings. These regions will become about 5% denser than their surroundings at 15 million years, and increasingly dense as time passes..
First Stars Form
x
credit: NASA / WMAP Science Team
Time
400 Myrs
Description
Artist's conception of stars beginning to appear in the Universe. The first stars formed from clumps of matter pulled together by gravity. When the temperature and density of matter is sufficiently high enough in one place, fusion begins and a star is born.
Oldest Galaxy Detected
x
credit: NASA, ESA, V.Tilvi (Texas A&M University), S.Finkelstein (University of Texas, Austin), and C.Papovich (Texas A & M University)
Time
700 Myears
Description
The most distant confirmed galaxy ever detected by humans. This galaxy (designated z8_GND_5296) was found by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hierarchial Clustering Increases
x
credit: Andrey Kravtsov, University of Chicago
Time
1.2 Gyrs
Description
Small structures form first and merge together to build larger structures. The process of large-scale structure formation is ongoing throughout the matter-dominated era, and even through today.
Globular Clusters
x
credit: NASA, ESA
Time
1.7 Gyrs
Description
The oldest globular star clusters of the Milky Way Galaxy form. These groups of stars are held close together by their own gravity. They have a spherical shape and are very dense near their core.
CMB Forms
x
credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team
Time
380,000 yrs
Description
The temperature of the Universe is 3,000 K. Neutral atoms form as electrons are able to bind to nuclei. Photons can now stream freely through space and the Universe becomes transparent instead of opaque. The photons from this era have been seen everywhere in the sky by microwave telescopes.
Milky Way disk in place
x
credit: NASA
Time
4.346 Gyrs
Description
The Milky Way disk is mostly in place. It would eventually evolve into the galactic disk we see today, as depicted from above in this artist's renditon.
Dark Energy Begins to Dominate
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
8 Gyears
Description
Once dark energy dominates the energy density, around 8 Gyr, the cosmic expansion speeds up. The dark energy is a diminishing part of the total energy the earlier back we look, but after this point it will dominate more and more.
Our Solar System Forms
x
credit: needed
Time
9.2 Gyears
Description
From radioactive dating of rocks, we know that our Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago, which is 9.2 billion years after the Universe began.
Oldest Earth Microfossils
x
credit: Washington University
Time
10.3 Gyears
Description
The oldest microfossils found on Earth are 3.5 billion years old from photosynthesizing cyanobacteria, which form structures known as stromatolites.
Animal Diversity
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.3 Gyears
Description
During the Cambrian explosion of animal diversity most of the major animal groups on Earth appeared. This happened 500 million years ago.
Mammals and Dinosaurs
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.6 Gyears
Description
Mammals and dinosaurs begin to appear on Earth about 200 million years ago.
Invention of the Written Word
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
The invention of writing approximately 6000 years ago is one of the most impressive things humans have ever accomplished. Scholars trace writing back to ancient Mesopotamia and Sumeria. The image depicts the Sanskrit word for peace.
You are studying Cosmology!
x
credit: project2000.ca
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
This is the present time.
The Copernican Revolution
x
credit: Camille Flammarion
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
The period about 400 years ago saw great advances in science. Though named for Copernicus, who pesented a Sun-centered model of the Solar System, it was kepler, Brahe, and Galileo who demonstrated the validity of this idea through experimentation. Equally important was Newton's "Principea", which ushered in the science of Physics. The image is an original Renaissance woodcut that represents this time of enlightment.
K-T Extinction Event
x
credit: NSF
Time
13.7 Gyears
Description
This mass extinction even, known as the Cretaceous-Tertiary event, happened 65 million years ago. This is when the dinosaurs disappeared.
Advent of the Homo Sapiens!
x
credit: Karen Carr, Smithsonian
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
Modern humans first appear on Earth 190,000 years ago.
Beginning of the Universe
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
0 sec
Description
Time and Space began. It was a time of extremely high energy and temperature everywhere in the universe.
Planck Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-43 sec
Description
This is the earliest era we can probe using the laws of physics. The temperature and density were so high that the four fundamental forces (grvity, electromagnetic, strong, and weak) nature were unified and behaved as one. After this time gravity behaves differently than the other three forces. the temperature is 1e32K.
GUT Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-35 sec
Description
GUT stands for Grand Unified Theory. At this point, the electromagnetic, weak and strong forces were unified. After this time, the strong force becomes distinct. The temperature of the Universe is 1e27K.
Inflation Ends
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-32 sec
Description
From a time starting around or before 1e-35 sec and ending at 1e-32 sec, the Universe likely expanded exponentially rapidly for a brief period of time before setting into a more gradual expansion.
Electroweak Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-12 sec
Description
At this point only the electromagnetic and weak forces were unified. After this time the weak force becomes distinct and all four forces behave differently. The Universe is full of elementary particles, such as quarks, leptons, and photons. The temperature of the Universe is 1e15K.
Quark Confinement
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-6 sec
Description
Quarks combine to form protons, neutrons, other particles and their anti-particles. The temperature of the Universe is 1e13K.
Baryon Annihiliation
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-4 sec
Description
Protons and anti-protons annihilate, leaving much more matter in the universe than anti-matter. Many photons are created. The temperature of the Universe is 1e12K.
Nucleosynthesis
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1 min - 3 min
Description
The temperature of the Universe is about 10e9 K, just right for nuclear fusion to occur. The lightest elements: hydrogen, helium, and lithium are produced at this time.
Neutrino Decoupling
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1 sec
Description
The Universe is no longer dense enough for neutrions to interact strongly with matter. Now they can travel great distances without interacting. The temperature of the Universe is about 1e10 K.
Electron-Positron Annihiliation
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
10 sec
Description
Electrons and their anti-particles, positrons, annihilate, again leaving much more matter in the Universe than anti-matter and creating more photons. The temperature of the Universe is 4e9 K.
Matter-Radiation Equality
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
50,000 yrs
Description
The density of matter and radiation are equal at this point After this point, matter becomes dominant over radiation. The Universe is a plasma that includes hydrogen and helium nuclei, electrons, and photons. The temperature of the Universe is 10,000 K.
CMB Forms
x
credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team
Time
380,000 yrs
Description
The temperature of the Universe is 3,000 K. Neutral atoms form as electrons are able to bind to nuclei. Photons can now stream freely through space and the Universe becomes transparent instead of opaque. The photons from this era have been seen everywhere in the sky by microwave telescopes.
Large-scale Structure is Growing
x
credit CLUES team and C.
Henze, N.McCurdy, J.Primack
Time
500,000 yrs
Description
The cosmic web is forming via gravitational attraction. Regions of space that will eventually form galaxies are about 0.5% more dense than their surroundings. These regions will become about 5% denser than their surroundings at 15 million years, and increasingly dense as time passes..
First Stars Form
x
credit: NASA / WMAP Science Team
Time
400 Myrs
Description
Artist's conception of stars beginning to appear in the Universe. The first stars formed from clumps of matter pulled together by gravity. When the temperature and density of matter is sufficiently high enough in one place, fusion begins and a star is born.
Oldest Galaxy Detected
x
credit: NASA, ESA, V.Tilvi (Texas A&M University), S.Finkelstein (University of Texas, Austin), and C.Papovich (Texas A & M University)
Time
700 Myears
Description
The most distant confirmed galaxy ever detected by humans. This galaxy (designated z8_GND_5296) was found by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hierarchial Clustering Increases
x
credit: Andrey Kravtsov, University of Chicago
Time
1.2 Gyrs
Description
Small structures form first and merge together to build larger structures. The process of large-scale structure formation is ongoing throughout the matter-dominated era, and even through today.
Globular Clusters
x
credit: NASA, ESA
Time
1.7 Gyrs
Description
The oldest globular star clusters of the Milky Way Galaxy form. These groups of stars are held close together by their own gravity. They have a spherical shape and are very dense near their core.
Milky Way disk in place
x
credit: NASA
Time
4.346 Gyrs
Description
The Milky Way disk is mostly in place. It would eventually evolve into the galactic disk we see today, as depicted from above in this artist's renditon.
Dark Energy Begins to Dominate
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
8 Gyears
Description
Once dark energy dominates the energy density, around 8 Gyr, the cosmic expansion speeds up. The dark energy is a diminishing part of the total energy the earlier back we look, but after this point it will dominate more and more.
Our Solar System Forms
x
credit: needed
Time
9.2 Gyears
Description
From radioactive dating of rocks, we know that our Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago, which is 9.2 billion years after the Universe began.
Oldest Earth Microfossils
x
credit: Washington University
Time
10.3 Gyears
Description
The oldest microfossils found on Earth are 3.5 billion years old from photosynthesizing cyanobacteria, which form structures known as stromatolites.
The Copernican Revolution
x
credit: Camille Flammarion
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
The period about 400 years ago saw great advances in science. Though named for Copernicus, who pesented a Sun-centered model of the Solar System, it was kepler, Brahe, and Galileo who demonstrated the validity of this idea through experimentation. Equally important was Newton's "Principea", which ushered in the science of Physics. The image is an original Renaissance woodcut that represents this time of enlightment.
Advent of the Homo Sapiens!
x
credit: Karen Carr, Smithsonian
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
Modern humans first appear on Earth 190,000 years ago.
Mammals and Dinosaurs
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.6 Gyears
Description
Mammals and dinosaurs begin to appear on Earth about 200 million years ago.
You are studying Cosmology!
x
credit: project2000.ca
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
This is the present time.
Invention of the Written Word
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
The invention of writing approximately 6000 years ago is one of the most impressive things humans have ever accomplished. Scholars trace writing back to ancient Mesopotamia and Sumeria. The image depicts the Sanskrit word for peace.
K-T Extinction Event
x
credit: NSF
Time
13.7 Gyears
Description
This mass extinction even, known as the Cretaceous-Tertiary event, happened 65 million years ago. This is when the dinosaurs disappeared.
Animal Diversity
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.3 Gyears
Description
During the Cambrian explosion of animal diversity most of the major animal groups on Earth appeared. This happened 500 million years ago.
Baryon Annihiliation
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-4 sec
Description
Protons and anti-protons annihilate, leaving much more matter in the universe than anti-matter. Many photons are created. The temperature of the Universe is 1e12K.
Neutrino Decoupling
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1 sec
Description
The Universe is no longer dense enough for neutrions to interact strongly with matter. Now they can travel great distances without interacting. The temperature of the Universe is about 1e10 K.
Electron-Positron Annihiliation
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
10 sec
Description
Electrons and their anti-particles, positrons, annihilate, again leaving much more matter in the Universe than anti-matter and creating more photons. The temperature of the Universe is 4e9 K.
Nucleosynthesis
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1 min - 3 min
Description
The temperature of the Universe is about 10e9 K, just right for nuclear fusion to occur. The lightest elements: hydrogen, helium, and lithium are produced at this time.
Beginning of the Universe
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
0 sec
Description
Time and Space began. It was a time of extremely high energy and temperature everywhere in the universe.
Planck Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-43 sec
Description
This is the earliest era we can probe using the laws of physics. The temperature and density were so high that the four fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetic, strong, and weak) nature were unified and behaved as one. After this time gravity behaves differently than the other three forces. the temperature is 1e32K.
GUT Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-35 sec
Description
GUT stands for Grand Unified Theory. At this point, the electromagnetic, weak and strong forces were unified. After this time, the strong force becomes distinct. The temperature of the Universe is 1e27K.
Inflation Ends
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-32 sec
Description
From a time starting around or before 1e-35 sec and ending at 1e-32 sec, the Universe likely expanded exponentially rapidly for a brief period of time before setting into a more gradual expansion.
Electroweak Time
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-12 sec
Description
At this point only the electromagnetic and weak forces were unified. After this time the weak force becomes distinct and all four forces behave differently. The Universe is full of elementary particles, such as quarks, leptons, and photons. The temperature of the Universe is 1e15K.
Quark Confinement
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-6 sec
Description
Quarks combine to form protons, neutrons, other particles and their anti-particles. The temperature of the Universe is 1e13K
Baryon Annihiliation
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1e-4 sec
Description
Protons and anti-protons annihilate, leaving much more matter in the universe than anti-matter. Many photons are created. The temperature of the Universe is 1e12K.
Neutrino Decoupling
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1 sec
Description
The Universe is no longer dense enough for neutrions to interact strongly with matter. Now they can travel great distances without interacting. The temperature of the Universe is about 1e10 K.
Electron-Positron Annihiliation
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
10 sec
Description
Electrons and their anti-particles, positrons, annihilate, again leaving much more matter in the Universe than anti-matter and creating more photons. The temperature of the Universe is 4e9 K.
Nucleosynthesis
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
1 min - 3 min
Description
The temperature of the Universe is about 10e9 K, just right for nuclear fusion to occur. The lightest elements: hydrogen, helium, and lithium are produced at this time.
Large-scale Structure is Growing
x
credit CLUES team and C.
Henze, N.McCurdy, J.Primack
Time
500,000 yrs
Description
The cosmic web is forming via gravitational attraction. Regions of space that will eventually form galaxies are about 0.5% more dense than their surroundings. These regions will become about 5% denser than their surroundings at 15 million years, and increasingly dense as time passes..
First Stars Form
x
credit: NASA / WMAP Science Team
Time
400 Myrs
Description
Artist's conception of stars beginning to appear in the Universe. The first stars formed from clumps of matter pulled together by gravity. When the temperature and density of matter is sufficiently high enough in one place, fusion begins and a star is born.
Oldest Galaxy Detected
x
credit: NASA, ESA, V.Tilvi (Texas A&M University), S.Finkelstein (University of Texas, Austin), and C.Papovich (Texas A & M University)
Time
700 Myears
Description
The most distant confirmed galaxy ever detected by humans. This galaxy (designated z8_GND_5296) was found by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hierarchial Clustering Increases
x
credit: Andrey Kravtsov, University of Chicago
Time
1.2 Gyrs
Description
Small structures form first and merge together to build larger structures. The process of large-scale structure formation is ongoing throughout the matter-dominated era, and even through today.
Globular Clusters
x
credit: NASA, ESA
Time
1.7 Gyrs
Description
The oldest globular star clusters of the Milky Way Galaxy form. These groups of stars are held close together by their own gravity. They have a spherical shape and are very dense near their core.
Milky Way disk in place
x
credit: NASA
Time
4.346 Gyrs
Description
The Milky Way disk is mostly in place. It would eventually evolve into the galactic disk we see today, as depicted from above in this artist's renditon.
Matter-Radiation Equality
x
credit: A Simonnet
Time
50,000 yrs
Description
The density of matter and radiation are equal at this point After this point, matter becomes dominant over radiation. The Universe is a plasma that includes hydrogen and helium nuclei, electrons, and photons. The temperature of the Universe is 10,000 K.
CMB Forms
x
credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team
Time
380,000 yrs
Description
The temperature of the Universe is 3,000 K. Neutral atoms form as electrons are able to bind to nuclei. Photons can now stream freely through space and the Universe becomes transparent instead of opaque. The photons from this era have been seen everywhere in the sky by microwave telescopes.
Large-scale Structure is Growing
x
credit CLUES team and C.
Henze, N.McCurdy, J.Primack
Time
500,000 yrs
Description
The cosmic web is forming via gravitational attraction. Regions of space that will eventually form galaxies are about 0.5% more dense than their surroundings. These regions will become about 5% denser than their surroundings at 15 million years, and increasingly dense as time passes..
First Stars Form
x
credit: NASA / WMAP Science Team
Time
400 Myrs
Description
Artist's conception of stars beginning to appear in the Universe. The first stars formed from clumps of matter pulled together by gravity. When the temperature and density of matter is sufficiently high enough in one place, fusion begins and a star is born.
Oldest Galaxy Detected
x
credit: NASA, ESA, V.Tilvi (Texas A&M University), S.Finkelstein (University of Texas, Austin), and C.Papovich (Texas A & M University)
Time
700 Myears
Description
The most distant confirmed galaxy ever detected by humans. This galaxy (designated z8_GND_5296) was found by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hierarchial Clustering Increases
x
credit: Andrey Kravtsov, University of Chicago
Time
1.2 Gyrs
Description
Small structures form first and merge together to build larger structures. The process of large-scale structure formation is ongoing throughout the matter-dominated era, and even through today.
Globular Clusters
x
credit: NASA, ESA
Time
1.7 Gyrs
Description
The oldest globular star clusters of the Milky Way Galaxy form. These groups of stars are held close together by their own gravity. They have a spherical shape and are very dense near their core.
Milky Way disk in place
x
credit: NASA
Time
4.346 Gyrs
Description
The Milky Way disk is mostly in place. It would eventually evolve into the galactic disk we see today, as depicted from above in this artist's renditon.
Dark Energy Begins to Dominate
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
8 Gyears
Description
Once dark energy dominates the energy density, around 8 Gyr, the cosmic expansion speeds up. The dark energy is a diminishing part of the total energy the earlier back we look, but after this point it will dominate more and more.
Our Solar System Forms
x
credit: needed
Time
9.2 Gyears
Description
From radioactive dating of rocks, we know that our Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago, which is 9.2 billion years after the Universe began.
Oldest Earth Microfossils
x
credit: Washington University
Time
10.3 Gyears
Description
The oldest microfossils found on Earth are 3.5 billion years old from photosynthesizing cyanobacteria, which form structures known as stromatolites.
Animal Diversity
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.3 Gyears
Description
During the Cambrian explosion of animal diversity most of the major animal groups on Earth appeared. This happened 500 million years ago.
Mammals and Dinosaurs
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.6 Gyears
Description
Mammals and dinosaurs begin to appear on Earth about 200 million years ago.
K-T Extinction Event
x
credit: NSF
Time
13.7 Gyears
Description
This mass extinction even, known as the Cretaceous-Tertiary event, happened 65 million years ago. This is when the dinosaurs disappeared.
Advent of the Homo Sapiens!
x
credit: Karen Carr, Smithsonian
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
Modern humans first appear on Earth 190,000 years ago.
Invention of the Written Word
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
The invention of writing approximately 6000 years ago is one of the most impressive things humans have ever accomplished. Scholars trace writing back to ancient Mesopotamia and Sumeria. The image depicts the Sanskrit word for peace.
The Copernican Revolution
x
credit: Camille Flammarion
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
The period about 400 years ago saw great advances in science. Though named for Copernicus, who pesented a Sun-centered model of the Solar System, it was kepler, Brahe, and Galileo who demonstrated the validity of this idea through experimentation. Equally important was Newton's "Principea", which ushered in the science of Physics. The image is an original Renaissance woodcut that represents this time of enlightment.
You are studying Cosmology!
x
credit: project2000.ca
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
This is the present time.
Dark Energy Begins to Dominate
x
credit: A. Simonnet
Time
8 Gyears
Description
Once dark energy dominates the energy density, around 8 Gyr, the cosmic expansion speeds up. The dark energy is a diminishing part of the total energy the earlier back we look, but after this point it will dominate more and more.
Our Solar System Forms
x
credit: needed
Time
9.2 Gyears
Description
From radioactive dating of rocks, we know that our Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago, which is 9.2 billion years after the Universe began.
Oldest Earth Microfossils
x
credit: Washington University
Time
10.3 Gyears
Description
The oldest microfossils found on Earth are 3.5 billion years old from photosynthesizing cyanobacteria, which form structures known as stromatolites.
You are studying Cosmology!
x
credit: project2000.ca
Time
13.8 Gyears
Description
This is the present time.

This page titled 18.0.58: wiu_16_cosmic_timeline is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kim Coble, Kevin McLin, & Lynn Cominsky.

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