Instead of being about 13.7 billion years old, this new study indicates the universe is more like 13.8 billion years old.
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre92k ... -universe/ (http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre92k15q-us-space-universe/)
This is why I love science: as more data comes in and more advanced analytical techniques are used, we are getting closer to knowing the truth.
I can just hear the fundies now: "See? Science keeps changing its mind! The BIBLE remains unchanged, and says the universe is 4015 and 5 months old!"
This is why error bars are important.
WMAP pinned the age of the universe to 13.73 +/- 0.12 billion, while 13.82 is at the high end of that it was still within the margin of error.
The bit I found most interesting is that it confirmed that the universe is lopsided.
Edit:
There is a good in depth look at the results here :
http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang ... to-planck/ (http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2013/03/21/what-the-entire-universe-is-made-of-thanks-to-planck/)
New study out, invisible friends are as real as unicorns and Lex Luthor and Santa........Oh wait, silly me interjecting reality into life.
Quote from: "Atheon"Instead of being about 13.7 billion years old, this new study indicates the universe is more like 13.8 billion years old.
When dealing in billions, I would understand a number like 13.7 to be meant as an approximation. Given how many times scientists have pushed back the age of the universe, and often times with much bigger leaps in percentage, this doesn't seem like much. The last estimate I saw, just the other day, read something like, "Today, the scientific consensus estimates that the universe is 13.7 billion years old." There are at least two or three qualifiers in that sentence that allow for new data to change our knowledge base.
I love the way science is open to new information and change. I simply cannot in a million years understand why people cling to religious dogma that resists learning, growth, and the ability to process new information, and in addition treats such self imposed ignorance as something of great value that sets itself above rational exploration.
Quote from: "moog"This is why error bars are important.
WMAP pinned the age of the universe to 13.73 +/- 0.12 billion, while 13.82 is at the high end of that it was still within the margin of error.
The bit I found most interesting is that it confirmed that the universe is lopsided.
Edit:
There is a good in depth look at the results here :
http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang ... to-planck/ (http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2013/03/21/what-the-entire-universe-is-made-of-thanks-to-planck/)
Nerdgasm! (//http://www.sciops.esa.int/index.php?project=PLANCK&page=Planck_Published_Papers)
Quote from: "SGOS"When dealing in billions, I would understand a number like 13.7 to be meant as an approximation.
Absolutely. And that's why scientists say things like "We think the universe is around 13.7 billion years old, given what we currently understand about it". Unlike people like Ray Comfort, who say, filled with the sin of pride, "I KNOOOOW god exists."
Quote from: "Atheon"Instead of being about 13.7 billion years old, this new study indicates the universe is more like 13.8 billion years old.
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre92k ... -universe/ (http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre92k15q-us-space-universe/)
This is why I love science: as more data comes in and more advanced analytical techniques are used, we are getting closer to knowing the truth.
I can just hear the fundies now: "See? Science keeps changing its mind! The BIBLE remains unchanged, and says the universe is 4015 and 5 months old!"
Nice find .
Quote from: "Jason78"Quote from: "moog"This is why error bars are important.
WMAP pinned the age of the universe to 13.73 +/- 0.12 billion, while 13.82 is at the high end of that it was still within the margin of error.
The bit I found most interesting is that it confirmed that the universe is lopsided.
Edit:
There is a good in depth look at the results here :
http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang ... to-planck/ (http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2013/03/21/what-the-entire-universe-is-made-of-thanks-to-planck/)
Nerdgasm! (//http://www.sciops.esa.int/index.php?project=PLANCK&page=Planck_Published_Papers)
Ohhhh.....I'm feelin' it, yeah........ :rolleyes:
Dammit, now I have to say "13.8 Billion years old". Fuck it science, get your shit together and stop changing! ;)
Quote from: "GurrenLagann"Dammit, now I have to say "13.8 Billion years old". Fuck it science, get your shit together and stop changing! ;)
Yeah, I liked the sound and feel of 13.7 better. Thirteen point 8 sounds doesn't sound near as precise. It's like some lazy fucker just rounded up to the next even number. :-D
Does this mean that the big crunch is calculated to happen next week thursday after all?
13.7 requires an extra syllable....I'm lazy.... 13.8 it is.