George F. Smoot receiving his Nobel Prize from His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at the Stockholm Concert Hall, 10 December 2006. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2006
Photo: Hans Mehlin

George F. Smoot after receiving his Nobel Prize at the Stockholm Concert Hall, 10 December 2006. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2006
Photo: Hans Mehlin

George F. Smoot showing his Nobel Prize medal. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2006
Photo: Hans Mehlin

Swedish Princess Madeleine and George F. Smoot at the Nobel Banquet, 10 December 2006. Copyright © Nobel Media AB 2006
Photo: Hans Mehlin

Their Majesties Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (middle) posing with John C. Mather and his wife, Jane Mather (left), and George F. Smoot and Christina Skube (right) at the Nobel Banquet, 10 December 2006. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2006
Photo: Torbjörn Zadig

The Nobel Laureates in Physics and the Royal Swedish siblings. Left to right: Crown Princess Victoria, George F. Smoot, Prince Carl Philip, Christina Skube, Princess Madeleine, John C. Mather, and Jane Mather. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2006
Photo: Torbjörn Zadig

Nobel Laureate in Physics George F. Smoot in a light moment with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Behind them is Princess Madeleine. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2006
Photo: Torbjörn Zadig

All the 2006 Nobel Laureates assembled for a group photo during their visit to the Nobel Foundation, 12 December 2006. Left to right: John C. Mather, Edmund S. Phelps, Roger Kornberg, Dipal Chandra Barua (representing Grameen Bank), Orhan Pamuk, Andrew Z. Fire, Craig C. Mello, Muhammad Yunus, and George F. Smoot. Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2006
Photo: Torbjörn Zadig

George F. Smoot during the Nobel Foundation reception at the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, 9 December 2006. Copyright © Nobel Media AB 2006
Photo: Hans Mehlin

George F. Smoot delivering his Nobel Lecture at the Aula Magna, Stockholm University, December 8, 2006. Copyright © Nobel Media AB 2006
Photo: Mirek Labedzki

George F. Smoot and John C. Mather after delivering their Nobel Lectures at the Aula Magna, Stockholm University, 8 December 2006. Copyright © Nobel Media AB 2006
Photo: Mirek Labedzki

From left: Per Carlson, George F. Smoot and John C. Mather at the Aula Magna, Stockholm University, 8 December 2006. Copyright © Nobel Media AB 2006
Photo: Mirek Labedzki

George F. Smoot (right) and John C. Mather (left), like many Nobel Laureates before them, autograph a chair at Kafé Satir at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, 6 December 2006.

Copyright © The Nobel Museum 2006 Photo: Fredrik Persson

John C. Mather (left) and George F. Smoot (middle) at the interview in Stockholm, 6 December 2006. The interviewer is Adam Smith, Editor-in-Chief of Nobelprize.org. Copyright © Nobel Media AB 2006
Photo: Hans Mehlin

George F. Smoot demonstrating the history of the universe at the interview in Stockholm, 6 December 2006. Copyright © Nobel Media AB 2006
Photo: Hans Mehlin

George F. Smoot at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California.

Copyright © Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 2006 Photo: Roy Kaltschmidt

A happy Nobel Laureate: George F. Smoot at a press conference held in his honour after the announcement of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Copyright © UC Berkeley 2006 Photo: Peg Skorpinski

Nobel Laureate George Smoot emerges from his office at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, just hours after being awakened by a phone call from Sweden informing him of being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. With Smoot is his assistant, Melissa Barclay.

Copyright © UC Regents 2006 Photo: Bonnie Azab Powell/UC Berkeley

Nobel Laureate George Smoot is greeted by UC Berkeley students at a Physics Department reception honouring his Nobel Prize award.

Copyright © Peg Skorpinski 2006 Photo: Peg Skorpinski

Media surrounds Nobel Laureate George Smoot as he walks from the morning press conference to his office at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California.

Copyright © Peg Skorpinski 2006 Photo: Peg Skorpinski

The day after the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Physic, George F. Smoot was back in the classroom, teaching his Physics 7B undergraduates.

Copyright © UC Regents 2006 Photo: Steve McConnell/UC Berkeley