Why can't we see the Big Bang directly?

The reason we cannot see the Big Bang directly hinges on the opacity of the universe during its early formation. For the first 380,000 years after the Big Bang, the universe was in a hot, dense state filled with a plasma of protons, neutrons, and electrons. This state rendered the universe opaque to radiation, preventing light from traveling freely. The high density of charged particles scattered photons, making it impossible for them to escape and reach an observer.

It was only after this initial period, known as the recombination era, that the universe expanded and cooled sufficiently for these charged particles to combine and form neutral hydrogen atoms. This process allowed photons to travel unimpeded, leading to the release of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation that we can observe today. Thus, the statement about the universe being opaque to radiation before 380,000 years accurately captures the essence of why we cannot see the Big Bang directly.