Reinventing cosmology: New research puts age of universe at 26.7 -- not
13.7 -- billion years

Date:
July 11, 2023
Source:
University of Ottawa
Summary:
Our universe could be twice as old as current estimates, according
to a new study that challenges the dominant cosmological model and
sheds new light on the so-called 'impossible early galaxy problem.'

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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Our universe could be twice as old as current estimates, according
to a new study that challenges the dominant cosmological model and
sheds new light on the so-called "impossible early galaxy problem."
"Our newly-devised model stretches the galaxy formation time by a several billion years, making the universe 26.7 billion years old, and not 13.7
as previously estimated," says author Rajendra Gupta, adjunct professor
of physics in the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa.

For years, astronomers and physicists have calculated the age of our
universe by measuring the time elapsed since the Big Bang and by studying
the oldest stars based on the redshift of light coming from distant
galaxies. In 2021, thanks to new techniques and advances in technology,
the age of our universe was thus estimated at 13.797 billion years using
the Lambda-CDM concordance model.

However, many scientists have been puzzled by the existence of stars
like the Methuselah that appear to be older than the estimated age of
our universe and by the discovery of early galaxies in an advanced state
of evolution made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope. These
galaxies, existing a mere 300 million years or so after the Big Bang,
appear to have a level of maturity and mass typically associated with
billions of years of cosmic evolution.

Furthermore, they're surprisingly small in size, adding another layer
of mystery to the equation.

Zwicky's tired light theory proposes that the redshift of light from
distant galaxies is due to the gradual loss of energy by photons over vast cosmic distances. However, it was seen to conflict with observations. Yet
Gupta found that "by allowing this theory to coexist with the expanding universe, it becomes possible to reinterpret the redshift as a hybrid phenomenon, rather than purely due to expansion." In addition to
Zwicky's tired light theory, Gupta introduces the idea of evolving
"coupling constants," as hypothesized by Paul Dirac. Coupling constants
are fundamental physical constants that govern the interactions between particles. According to Dirac, these constants might have varied over
time. By allowing them to evolve, the timeframe for the formation of
early galaxies observed by the Webb telescope at high redshifts can be
extended from a few hundred million years to several billion years. This provides a more feasible explanation for the advanced level of development
and mass observed in these ancient galaxies.

Moreover, Gupta suggests that the traditional interpretation of the "cosmological constant," which represents dark energy responsible for
the accelerating expansion of the universe, needs revision. Instead,
he proposes a constant that accounts for the evolution of the coupling constants. This modification in the cosmological model helps address the
puzzle of small galaxy sizes observed in the early universe, allowing
for more accurate observations.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Space_&_Time
# Cosmology # Astrophysics # Big_Bang # Galaxies #
Astronomy # Cosmic_Rays # Space_Telescopes # Solar_System
* RELATED_TERMS
o Big_Bang o Dark_energy o Ultimate_fate_of_the_universe
o Galaxy_formation_and_evolution o
Cosmic_microwave_background_radiation o Andromeda_Galaxy o
Spitzer_space_telescope o Milky_Way

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Source: Materials provided by University_of_Ottawa. Original written by
Bernard Rizk.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. R Gupta. JWST early Universe observations and LCDM
cosmology. Monthly
Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2023; DOI: 10.1093/mnras/
stad2032 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230711133118.htm

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