How Do We Know the Age of the Universe?

The video explores human curiosity about the universe's origin, focusing on how astronomers estimate its age. It explains the use of distant objects and redshift to determine age, and how the universe's expansion rate, discovered through type Ia supernovas and the cosmic microwave background, refines these estimates. The video highlights the challenges and advancements in understanding the universe's age, emphasizing the importance of scientific progress.

What is the estimated age of the universe according to the Big Bang theory?

• 20 billion years

• 15.2 billion years

• 13.8 billion years

• 10.5 billion years

What phenomenon is used to determine the age of distant stars by observing their light?

• Blueshift

• Redshift

• Doppler effect

• Gravitational lensing

Which astronomical event is used as a 'standard candle' to measure distances in the universe?

• Neutron star collision

• Cepheid variable

• Type Ia supernova

• Type II supernova

What did the discovery of type Ia supernovas reveal about the universe's expansion?

• The expansion has stopped

• The expansion is accelerating

• The expansion is constant

• The expansion is slowing down

What does the cosmic microwave background (CMB) help scientists understand about the universe?

• The universe's shape

• The universe's rate of expansion

• The universe's temperature

• The universe's color