George Smoot, a doctor of physics from MIT, is one of today's leading cosmologists. His studies on the cosmic microwave background, which allowed him to detect the "wrinkles in time" where galaxies arose, earned him the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics (along with John C. Mather). In 2009 he received the Oersted Medal, which recognizes the quality of those who teach physics. In addition to publishing in specialized magazines, he has taken the time to appear, playing himself, in the series The Big Bang Theory.