The universe could be younger by 2 billion years: study

Its age could be reduced to less than 12 billion years, instead of 13.8 billion previously.

Astrophysicists evaluate the age of the universe using the movement of stars to calculate the speed at which it develops. If the universe grows faster than expected, it means that it has regained its current size faster and therefore needs to be younger.

"We have great uncertainty about how stars evolve in the galaxy," said Inh Jee of the Max Planck Institute of Astrophysics in Germany and lead author of the study published Thursday in the newspaper Science.

Previous estimates on the age of the universe were based on a Hubble constant rate or expansion of 70. The Jee team of researchers however proposed 82.4, which which would bring the age of the universe to about 11.4 billion years ago.

Large margin of error

However, Jee only used two gravitational lenses for research, all of which were available, which means that his margin of error is so large that it is possible that the universe might to be older than calculated, not younger.

Some experts question the conclusions of the limitation.

Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb told The Associated Press that it was an interesting and unique way to calculate the speed of the universe 's expansion, but that it' s not the only way to do it. it was necessary to have additional information to give more weight to the evidence.

"It's hard to be sure of your conclusions if you use a rule that you do not understand well," Loeb said.

Adam Riess, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize for his research on the age and rate of expansion of the universe, as well as for the discovery of "dark energy," said at the AFP news agency that Thursday's study lacked precision.

"I do not think it adds much to the current situation, but it's nice to see people looking for alternative methods," he said.