How Do Scientists Determine the Age of the Universe?

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by (120 points)
What methods have scientists implemented to arrive at the conclusion that the universe has an estimated age of 13.8 billion years?

1 Answer

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by (620 points)
There are numerous ways of estimating the age of the Universe, for example by observing the cosmic microwave background radiation, the rate of expansion of the Universe (according to Hubble’s law) and older known celestial objects. These techniques supplemented with theoretical models and the application of scientific principles enable the estimation of the roughly age of the Universe to be fourteen billion years.
by (100 points)
To me, it seems that our estimate on age of the universe is completely wrong. The fact that JWST has been able to see farther and see more galaxies fatter that Hubble, makes me assume we’re not looking to the ends of the universe, we’re only looking to the ends of the capabilities of our telescopes. When our next top of the Rollins telescope is built and put into space, it stands to reason that if it is more powerful and more capable then we will see objects even farther than what we have seen now. We might be better off in our understanding if we just accept and quit thinking we know certainties
by (100 points)
Or. ...... was the "big bang" just an event in a universe that already existed?
by (100 points)
I don't buy it, why?
Because if we look at anything in the universe, that thing is only as it is right now at this point.
It will not be the same the next time.
It will look as if it's the same, but it has changed on levels we cannot measure.
Just like we humans look the same from day to day on the surface level, our cellular structure has changed from day to day in so many different ways.
And when we reach our end of the line and die, we change into something else.
Nothing that our body was composed of vanishes, it simple changes into other elements and properties of the universe.
The same goes for anything in existence across time.
Nothing can exist if time seized to exist.
Because existence itself is bound by motion and motion require time.

With all of that said, it seem obvious to me that everything that exists is under constant change, including the very universe itself.
So my argument there is that the universe has always existed.
And that which we call the big bang, is just one point in the infinite of which we are able to trace back to.
by (100 points)
I never understood the signifance of the millionth of  second etc after big bang, why not just 'straight after big bang?
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