I study the birth and evolution of the cosmos by designing, building, and observing with telescopes that measure the oldest light in the Universe. This cosmic microwave background (CMB) is a luminous artifact of the Big Bang that contains signatures from the very earliest times and is essential for understanding the dynamics of our evolving Universe. To measure the CMB we build telescopes at dry high elevation sites to avoid the oxygen and water vapor that otherwise contaminate our measurements. The most active sites on earth for this work are in Chile and at the South Pole, though additional sites in China and Greenland are being explored. At Cornell we build unique cameras for the telescopes, then we travel to these remote sites, deploy the cameras, and use them to improve measurements of this ancient light. Our measurements have the potential to transform our understanding of the formation and physical properties of our Universe. I believe addressing fundamental questions like these matters to everyone who would like to understand our place in the Universe.