(Courtesy to Microsoft Encarta for this photograph.)

The Universe is about 13 billion years old. This is what was found out when scientists started studying radioactive material from meteorites, finding when the Universe started expanding, and studying the old stars in the center of the Milky Way. An average of the three methods is about 13 billion years. In the 13 billion years that the Universe has lived, many tremendous things have happened. Some things are explainable by physics, but while others are outside of the boundaries of the laws of physics. This is known as quantum physics. Galaxies, stars, and other celestial objects have formed and died. Different elements fusing into other heavier and more complex elements. The Universe is in an ongoing cycle and it continues to change right now.

Most scientists think that the Universe started with the Big Bang. There is plenty of evidence that points toward the Big Bang event. We have a theory that says how the Universe was born, but so far nobody has ever really found out why the Universe started. This may be something that we will find out in the future.

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