What modern cosmological feature is the most crucial element in resolving Olbers' Paradox?
Answer
The finite age of the universe, established by the Big Bang theory as approximately 13.8 billion years.
The true resolution to Olbers' Paradox centers on the fact that the universe is neither static nor infinitely old. Modern cosmology, supported by the Big Bang theory, dictates that the universe began approximately 13.8 billion years ago. This finite age imposes a hard time limit: light from objects beyond a specific distance—the distance light could travel in 13.8 billion years—has simply not had enough time to reach Earth, preventing those sources from contributing to the visible sky brightness.
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