Has JWST shown the Universe is TWICE as old as we think?!

#astronomy #JWST #cosmology

00:00 - Introduction: JWST's massive galaxy problem
01:48 - Our current best model of the Universe: λ-CDM
03:16 - The problems with λ-CDM and the "Crisis in Cosmology"
04:28 - Getting distance from redshift
05:13 - A new model of the Universe: a HYBRID of "tired light" and expansion of the Universe
06:25 - The history of "tired light" and why it was eventually dismissed (Tolman Surface Brightness Test)
08:18 - What Gupta (2023) have found
09:30 - The change to the calibration of redshift and distance (and the new age of the Universe)
10:02 - What other problems does this new model help solve?
11:07 - The observational evidence that this new model ignores...
12:39 - How else do we explain JWST's massive galaxy problem? Universal IMF issues
14:35 - Outro: the legacy of JWST
15:23 - Brilliant
16:46 - Bloopers

Video filmed on a Sony ⍺7 IV
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👩🏽‍💻 I'm Dr. Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford (Christ Church). I love making videos about science with an unnatural level of enthusiasm. I like to focus on how we know things, not just what we know. And especially, the things we still don't know. If you've ever wondered about something in space and couldn't find an answer online - you can ask me! My day job is to do research into how supermassive black holes can affect the galaxies that they live in. In particular, I look at whether the energy output from the disk of material orbiting around a growing supermassive black hole can stop a galaxy from forming stars.

[robertpearce]

Maybe, it just feels twice as old. I can relate to that.

[KharBrons]

I like that you add a little portrait of individual authors on the papers that you show. I know its not a big thing necessarily, but putting a face to the name kinda grounds it in my mind. I know these are real people, but seeing a face makes it feel more real... if that makes any sense. Also I imagine the authors like it as well. Adding a bit of humanity to the cold science.

[rrmackay]

I love the fact that JWST is challenging our understandings of the universe, it is exactly what any great experiment is supposed to achieve.

[edwardp]

Love that I can come here for actual science and data instead of sensationalized pop-sci garbage. Even PBS Spacetime is giving you shout outs! Never change Dr Becky!

[michaeljforde]

What is amazing about living in this time compared to Hubble's discoveries in the 1920s-1930s is that we have science communicators like you who can and do reach others who would otherwise be unable to access/understand the new knowledge. Thank you for being generous just for the sake of letting us understand.

[Pichuscute]

I appreciate people exploring all our options, if nothing else. I think these types of papers are extremely useful, so really glad they are getting made, whether right or not.

[patreekotime]

The great thing about research like this is that in attempting to refute it, someone could potentially be inspired to come up with a solution to one of those problems, or even a better model than lambda CDM. And thats really exciting!

[axiom]

A great post that exemplifies the value of skepticism and accounting for uncertainty. The best part is how JWST stimulates thought. Dr. Becky has cemented her role as my goto inspiration for astrophysical reasoning.

[themarlboromandalorian]

I don't think the universe cares too much as to whether or not we can comprehend the fact of how time doesn't have a beginning or an end or the scope of infinity.

[getsmarter]

I’ve believed the universe to be 13.8 billion years old all my life. I’m now 64, and this really blows my mind and I’m not sure I can cope. I also really miss Pluto as a planet. Shakes me to the core.

[stevesrun]

The subject paper does not claim to be "the answer", but rather it is an interesting and useful "what if we try this, and this, and this" exercise. Science and scientists often become too confident in what they think they know. It's good when new data throws us a curve ball and causes us to question the unquestionable. Critical thinking and analyzing the effects of different "what if" theories is useful and should always be encouraged.

[Jacobarch]

Scientific community repeat after me; "We dont really know"

[ian_b]

Only 100 years ago we were still arguing about whether there was more than one galaxy. I think we've been too presumptious in thinking we have everything figured out bar the minor details for some time now.

[balaclavabob]

The great thing about science is that even a paper that's considered incorrect after more work on the subject is still valuable because it's encoraged other work that may show other results or even spawned new lines of research that advance understanding . There's also a part of me that thinks it's funny that everyone was saying how JWST would change the way we think about the universe and when it does that a bunch of scientists go " erm Naa " lol

[eric_intotheunknown]

Great analysis, thanks! Like you said, this is such a cool time to be watching these discoveries - there are so many ideas to explore. I love your balance of healthy skepticism and openness to new possibilities. This one does seem like a long shot, but an interesting way to at least try to explain the discrepancies.

[markschoenenberger]

So happy for you that you get to participate in the JWST era, and so thankful you take the time to bring us along for the ride. This was a great episode.

[chriscopeman]

For historical interest, in 1980, when I took my first astronomy class, the universe was 20 billion years old.

[BodTheGrinch]

It is absolutely insane to me that the idea that redshift could be due to both expansion of the universe AND tired light wasn't seriously considered before now. That's hardly a wildly outside-the-box idea. There has to be more to it than this.

[AndyGeroldMusic]

Thank you! I've been waiting for someone to break this down and not just jump to the conclusion that every other headline does!

[oldblinddarby]

This channel and Anton Petrov both put out videos with extremely interesting but also very suspect findings in the last few hours. Both make great content.