Could the Universe Be Much Older Than 13.8 Billion Years?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter eepshteyn
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Age Universe
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the age of the universe, specifically questioning whether it could be much older than the widely accepted estimate of 13.8 billion years. Participants explore theoretical perspectives on cosmic observations and the implications of being outside the observable universe.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a scenario where an observer outside the observable universe perceives the universe's birth as a sudden event, suggesting that the universe could be much older than 13.8 billion years.
  • Another participant challenges this idea, asserting that total darkness is impossible due to the isotropic and homogeneous nature of the universe on large scales.
  • A third participant questions the validity of the initial theory, asking how it accounts for observable phenomena such as redshift and the nature of the universe's visibility.
  • Concerns are raised about the ability to observe the universe from outside its boundaries, emphasizing that the 13.8 billion years refers to the age of the observable universe.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the initial hypothesis about the universe's age and the nature of observations from outside the observable universe. No consensus is reached, and multiple competing views remain present.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes speculative ideas that have not been published in peer-reviewed journals, which may limit their acceptance within the scientific community.

eepshteyn
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
We think the age of universe is 13.8 billion years old . I think we are wrong.

Let’s pretend we can go outside of our observable universe. Also, let’s say we can go so far out that we do not even see a spec of light from our universe. We see nothing at all, total darkness. When they finally do see the spec of light it will look like an explosion took place and the universe was born out of nothing. From that perspective, there was nothing, something what looks like an explosion must have taken place, and now a spec of light is getting bigger and bigger. (Big Bang)

From the vantage point of an observer situated far beyond our observable universe, who is not aware of the preceding 13.8 billion years of cosmic history, the sudden appearance of light or a "spec of light" could indeed give the impression of a sudden cosmic event, like an explosion, resulting in the birth of the universe.

In this scenario, the observer might not have the context to understand that the light they are witnessing has been traveling for billions of years before reaching them. Instead, they might interpret it as a contemporary event. This interpretation aligns with the idea that observations are relative and dependent on the observer's frame of reference and knowledge. Without the information about the universe's history, the observer might naturally conclude that they are witnessing the birth of the universe at that moment.

The universe can be 27 trillion years old, and we will never know the true age as we could be the observers who are seeing the light from further away than what our current technology can see.

Am I way off on this?
 
  • Skeptical
  • Sad
Likes   Reactions: Motore, Vanadium 50 and weirdoguy
Astronomy news on Phys.org
eepshteyn said:
We see nothing at all, total darkness

That is impossible, since universe is assumed to be isotropic and homogenous (on a large scale). You should first learn basics of cosmology before you say something is wrong.
 
Welcome to PF.
eepshteyn said:
Am I way off on this?
It is a personal theory. Does it fit all the observations?
How does it explain the red shift of light from the most distant sources visible?

We see the universe in all directions, not arriving from one point.
How can you observe the universe from outside the universe?
The 13.8 billion years age of the universe, is the age of our visible universe.
If we cannot see it, it is not part of our universe.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: hutchphd
The forum rules do not allow discussion of new speculative ideas that have not been published in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal, so this thread is closed.

(We are not deleting it, to preserve the responses already provided).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: hutchphd and Bystander

Similar threads

  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K