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

The age of our universe could be twice as old as previously estimated, according to a new study that challenges the dominant cosmological model and sheds new light on the so-called “impossible early galaxy problem.” The study, conducted by Rajendra Gupta, adjunct professor of physics in the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa, proposes a newly-devised model that stretches the galaxy formation time by several billion years. This makes the universe 26.7 billion years old instead of 13.7 billion years as previously estimated.

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 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 exist a mere 300 million years or so after the Big Bang and 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.

Gupta’s study proposes that Zwicky’s tired light theory can coexist with the expanding universe. This theory proposes that redshift is due to photons losing energy over vast cosmic distances. 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 constants that govern how particles interact with each other.

This new study challenges current cosmological models and provides new insights into how galaxies form and evolve over time.

Reference:

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