Age of the Universe

The present estimates of the age of the universe, and also the size of the universe hinge on several assumptions.

• The first assumption is that the redshifting of the light from distant objects is a direct measurement of their speed of recession.
• The next assumption is that, the universe is expanding in proportion to the measured and calculated velocities (from the red shift information.)
• The next assumption is that events in the universe occur identically, in the same manner that the interactions would occur on earth.
• The next assumption is that, if all calculated motions were reversed over the calculated distances, this will yield the time calculated from the moment of the beginning of the universe to the present.

From these assumptions, current theories assert that our universe began approximately 15-20 billion years ago.

Unfortunately for those theories, the C-R theory has a perfectly disruptive monkey wrench to throw in to each of the four assumptions.

As for the first assumption, the C-R theory categorically predicts that gravitational redshift will produce some amount of the detected redshift. Therefore, the calculated velocity of recession is likely to be in serious error.

For the next assumption, the expanding universe, the expansion idea was based on the assumed recessional velocity. If that is in error, then the figures for the amount of expansion occurring, and the time to distance correlation for expansion may also be fatally flawed. By varying our starting fudge factors, the CR theory can accommodate almost any amount of expansion. If the universe was falling in upon itself, we could explain it away. If the universe was totally static, we could accept that, too. If the universe was expanding some, a little or a lot, we could accommodate any of those assumptions. In addition, our fudge factors would allow us to measure the universe as it appears today. We would only face a challenge to adjust our fudge factors to account for a change in appearance over time. Either the position of the stars, relative to the background, or a change in the amount of redshift, either positive or negative could be accommodated. Additionally, we could accommodate a change in brightness or decrease in brightness from far-away objects with relative ease.

The third assumption, that all events occur in the same manner, with the same measurable results as on the Earth would also be challenged. If the gravitational redshift and time slowdown do exist, then events at the outer edges of our universe are occurring at only 10% (for a 90% red shift) of our real time rate. Since this affects the overall brightness/energy output/ distance calculations, the distances derived from the data may again be seriously overestimated. If the timeframes are different, then all data from far away would need to be time-base-corrected before they could be compared, one for one, to events occurring near the Earth.

As a supplement, one additional consideration for distance calculations. The original distance to brightness correlations upon which the size of the universe was measured, was based on the relationship between the variable dimming period, and the absolute brightness (luminance) in a special class of stars called Cephid-Variables.

The relative brightness of Cephid-variable stars was compared, and assumed to be identical for stars with the same periodicity. If that was the case, then distance alone would account for the difference in the apparent relative brightness (magnitude).

However, if the time-bases of the Cephid-variable stars were unequal, then the relationship between the periodicity, and the brightness output will be doubly in error. The periodicity will be slowed down, as objects further out towards the outer edge of the universe should exist in a slower timeframe, and the brightness output from that periodicity will also be lower than expected. In that case, the distance to the stars would be overestimated. A good analogy might be that the assumed astronomical yardstick actually measures only an inch long at the other end of the universe1.)