Quote:
|
How is the big bang a falsifiable theory?
|
The easiest way is to go back in time and see how the universe looked like in the beginning, or build your own universe.
To simplify it, big bang states one thing, that the universe started from a very small point of space, and expanded. The falsify it, you'd have to show that the universe is not always expanding (for example, its size fluctuates). Just contracting won't do, since it could be the big crunch.
Quote:
|
Why would one believe it solely because no one has offered a better theory?
|
Well, yes and no. If there is no better theory, it meant this this one is
the best, currently. It had been build upon by decades of observational evidence. If someday, somehow, a better theory came up, that could explain all that Big Bang can, and explain all that Big Bang couldn't, it'll supersede Big Bang. Note though, if it is something that Big Bang can absorb, then the Big Bang theory will be
modified, instead of being replaced.
Quote:
|
What are the other measures of the age of the universe you refer to?
|
I might recommend some reading over at
wikipedia. It is explained in more detail, and provides more link.
Quote:
|
How does one know how "far out" a galaxy is?
|
I recommend this
page(wikipedia again). Again, I do not have the sufficient knowledge to explain in more detail.
Let's wait until someone knowledgeable enough comes in..