The Big Bang is the leading scientific model for the origin of the universe, supported by extensive evidence like the cosmic microwave background radiation, the expansion of the universe, and the abundance of light elements. It suggests that about 13.8 billion years ago, the universe began as an extremely hot, dense state and has been expanding ever since. However, the Big Bang doesn't explain the absolute "origin" of existence itself—more like the start of the universe as we know it. What caused it or what existed "before" (if that concept even applies) remains unknown, as our understanding of physics breaks down at the singularity. Alternative ideas exist, like cyclic models or multiverse theories, but they're speculative and less supported by evidence. Some philosophical or religious perspectives argue for non-physical origins, though those are outside the realm of empirical science. The honest answer is we don't fully know if "all of existence" stems from the Big Bang—it’s the best model for the observable universe, but the ultimate origin question is still open.

If we assume the Big Bang happened, it is the origin of our observable universe—space, time, matter, and energy as we know them. However, whether it accounts for all of Reality depends on what you mean by "Reality." If Reality includes only our universe, then yes, the Big Bang is the starting point based on current science. If Reality encompasses potential multiverses, other dimensions, or non-physical realms (e.g., metaphysical or philosophical constructs), the Big Bang might not be the origin of all of it. Science can't confirm or deny these broader possibilities, as they’re beyond empirical reach. For example, multiverse theories suggest our Big Bang could be one of many, but there’s no direct evidence. So, the Big Bang likely originated our universe’s Reality, but we don’t know if it accounts for all possible layers of existence.

You're right—it's possible our Big Bang was just one event within a larger "Universe" or multiverse. If so, not all of Reality originated from our Big Bang. Other big bangs or processes could have created other parts of a broader cosmos, with our universe being one bubble among many. This aligns with some multiverse models, like eternal inflation, where multiple big bangs spawn distinct universes. However, there's no direct evidence for this yet—it's speculative, as our scientific tools are limited to observing our own universe. So, while our Big Bang likely birthed our universe, it may not be the origin of all existence if a larger multiverse framework exists.

Finding galaxies at the edge of our observable universe that appear older than the 13.8 billion years since our Big Bang would indeed be compelling evidence that not all of Reality originated from our Big Bang. It could suggest those galaxies belong to a different universe or region, possibly from an older big bang within a larger multiverse. Here's what such evidence might look like and how it could be interpreted: ### What Would Constitute Evidence? 1. Galaxies Older Than 13.8 Billion Years: - How to Detect: Astronomers measure galaxy ages by analyzing star populations, metallicity (heavy element content), and redshift. If we found galaxies with stars or structures indicating formation times significantly predating our Big Bang (e.g., 15-20 billion years old), it would challenge the timeline of our universe’s expansion. - Implication: This could suggest these galaxies formed in a different cosmic event, possibly an older big bang in a neighboring universe within a multiverse framework. 2. Inconsistent Cosmological Parameters: - How to Detect: If galaxies at the universe’s edge showed cosmological properties (e.g., different expansion rates, cosmic microwave background temperatures, or fundamental constants like the fine-structure constant) that don’t align with our universe’s post-Big Bang evolution, it might indicate they originated from a separate big bang with distinct physics. - Implication: Such discrepancies could point to a multiverse where different regions have different physical laws or origins. 3. Anomalous Redshift or Spatial Distribution: - How to Detect: Galaxies with redshifts suggesting distances or velocities incompatible with our universe’s expansion history could hint at external origins. For example, if their redshift implies they’re moving in ways that don’t fit the Hubble flow (the expected expansion pattern from our Big Bang), they might belong to another cosmic structure. - Implication: This could indicate a boundary or overlap with another universe, supporting the idea of a multiverse with multiple big bangs. 4. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) Anomalies: - How to Detect: Patterns in the CMB, like unusual temperature fluctuations or "bruises" (hypothesized imprints from collisions with other universes), could suggest interactions with regions from a different big bang. Advanced telescopes like the Simons Observatory or future CMB experiments could probe this. - Implication: Such anomalies might indicate our universe is embedded in a larger structure where other big bangs occurred. ### Challenges in Finding Such Evidence - Observational Limits: The observable universe is finite due to the speed of light and cosmic expansion. Galaxies at the "edge" (the observable horizon, ~46 billion light-years away) are seen as they were billions of years ago, making it hard to confirm their age or origin definitively. - Technological Constraints: Current telescopes (e.g., James Webb Space Telescope) can detect galaxies from the early universe (~13 billion years ago), but distinguishing whether they’re from our Big Bang or another requires unprecedented precision in measuring ages or physical constants. - Theoretical Interpretation: Even if we found anomalously old galaxies, alternative explanations (e.g., errors in age estimation, unknown stellar processes, or modified gravity models) would need to be ruled out before concluding they’re from another big bang. ### Your Specific Scenario If we found galaxies at the edge of our observable universe with ages exceeding 13.8 billion years, it would strongly suggest they formed before our Big Bang. This could imply: - They originated in an older neighboring universe from a separate big bang, as you propose. - Our universe is part of a multiverse where different regions have different starting points. - Alternatively, it might force a rethink of our Big Bang model, suggesting a more complex origin for our universe (e.g., a cyclic model or a pre-Big Bang phase). ### Current State of Evidence As of July 19, 2025, no galaxies have been confirmed to be older than our Big Bang. The James Webb Space Telescope has observed galaxies like GLASS-z13, formed ~300 million years after our Big Bang, but none exceed the 13.8-billion-year limit. Claims on platforms like X about "impossibly old" galaxies often misinterpret early universe observations or are speculative. Future telescopes or CMB experiments might provide clues, but for now, the multiverse remains a hypothesis without direct evidence. Your idea is a plausible way to test the multiverse concept, but confirming it would require breakthroughs in observational cosmology to detect such anomalies with certainty.

Your submission raises an intriguing point about the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations and the interpretation of certain candidate galaxies that appear to challenge our understanding of the universe’s timeline. Let’s unpack this idea, focusing on whether these galaxies could be older than our Big Bang (implying they originated from a different big bang in a larger multiverse) or if astronomers are simply attributing their properties to faster-than-expected evolution. ### JWST Observations and "Problematic" Galaxies The JWST has indeed observed galaxies that appear surprisingly massive and mature for their cosmic epoch, dating back to within 500–800 million years after our Big Bang (13.8 billion years ago). For example, galaxies like those reported in the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) survey and the JADES program, such as ZF-UDS-7329, show characteristics (e.g., high stellar mass, structured features like spiral arms or bars) that seem inconsistent with the standard model of galaxy formation, which expects smaller, less organized galaxies at such early times. These findings have led to headlines about “universe breakers” because they appear to defy the expected timeline of galaxy formation.[](https://www.colorado.edu/today/2023/02/22/webb-telescope-spots-super-old-massive-galaxies-shouldnt-exist) One study, led by Martín López Corredoira at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, analyzed galaxies at redshift ~8 (about 600 million years post-Big Bang) and estimated their stellar populations to have ages between 900 and 2400 million years, which would place their formation before our Big Bang if taken at face value. This has sparked debate about whether these galaxies could belong to a different cosmic event or if our models of galaxy evolution need revision.[](https://www.iac.es/en/outreach/news/study-suggests-there-are-galaxies-which-might-be-older-currently-accepted-age-universe) ### Astronomers’ Speculation: Faster Evolution The prevailing interpretation among many astronomers is that these galaxies formed and evolved much faster than previously thought possible. The standard cosmological model (ΛCDM, or Lambda Cold Dark Matter) assumes galaxies form gradually, with dark matter halos seeding gas collapse and star formation over billions of years. However, JWST’s observations suggest:[](https://theconversation.com/the-earliest-galaxies-formed-amazingly-fast-after-the-big-bang-do-they-break-the-universe-or-change-its-age-237416) - Rapid Star Formation: Some early galaxies, like those observed 500–700 million years after the Big Bang, contain billions of stars, approaching or exceeding the Milky Way’s mass (~60 billion solar masses). This implies star formation rates far higher than expected, possibly driven by efficient gas accretion or mergers.[](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230222115828.htm) - Mature Structures: Galaxies like ceers-2112, a barred spiral seen 11 billion years ago, and others with disks or spiral arms, suggest advanced morphological development much earlier than the 4–6 billion years post-Big Bang predicted by models.[](https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-evolved-galaxy-early-universe) - Alternative Explanations: Some astronomers propose these galaxies might not be as massive as they appear. For instance, their brightness could be boosted by active supermassive black holes or hot dust emitting strongly in infrared, which JWST detects, rather than a large stellar population. Spectroscopy is needed to confirm their nature, and some data already support the galaxy interpretation.[](https://www.npr.org/2023/02/22/1158793897/webb-telescope-huge-early-galaxies-big-bang) This “faster evolution” hypothesis adjusts the standard model by suggesting mechanisms like enhanced star formation efficiency, early mergers, or underestimated dark matter effects, rather than abandoning the Big Bang framework entirely. ### Your Hypothesis: Galaxies from an Older Big Bang Your idea—that these galaxies could be older than our Big Bang and originate from a different big bang in a larger multiverse—is a bold alternative. It aligns with multiverse theories, such as eternal inflation, where multiple big bangs create separate “bubble” universes with potentially different ages or physical properties. If these galaxies predate our Big Bang, they could be evidence of such a framework. Let’s evaluate this possibility: - Supporting Evidence: - The López Corredoira study’s age estimates (900–2400 million years for galaxies at 600 million years post-Big Bang) suggest stellar populations that, if accurate, formed before our universe’s timeline allows. This could imply they belong to an older universe.[](https://www.iac.es/en/outreach/news/study-suggests-there-are-galaxies-which-might-be-older-currently-accepted-age-universe) - If galaxies at the edge of our observable universe (high redshift) show properties inconsistent with our expansion history (e.g., anomalous redshifts or physical constants), they might originate from a neighboring universe with a different big bang. - Multiverse models predict that bubble universes could occasionally interact, leaving imprints like CMB anomalies or gravitational effects, though no confirmed evidence exists yet. - Challenges to the Hypothesis: - Age Estimation Uncertainties: Stellar age estimates rely on models of star formation and dust extinction, often calibrated on nearby galaxies. If these models are inaccurate for early universes (e.g., due to different metallicity or star formation physics), the apparent “pre-Big Bang” ages could be artifacts. For example, exotic star types with low heavy-element content might emit light differently, skewing age calculations.[](https://www.iac.es/en/outreach/news/study-suggests-there-are-galaxies-which-might-be-older-currently-accepted-age-universe) - No Direct Multiverse Evidence: While multiverse theories are mathematically plausible, there’s no empirical evidence for other big bangs. Anomalies like the CMB’s “cold spot” have been proposed as multiverse signatures, but they remain inconclusive. - Alternative Explanations Fit Better: The rapid-evolution hypothesis requires tweaking galaxy formation models but stays within the established Big Bang framework, which is supported by robust evidence (e.g., CMB, Hubble expansion). Occam’s razor favors this over introducing a multiverse without direct evidence. ### Could These Be From Another Big Bang? For JWST-detected galaxies to originate from an older big bang, we’d need evidence that they’re not part of our universe’s causal structure. Possible indicators include: - Inconsistent Physical Properties: If these galaxies exhibit fundamental constants (e.g., fine-structure constant) or expansion rates different from our universe’s, it could suggest a separate