[Robert]

I don't understand how the WMAP satellite can measure the age of the universe. It has taken pictures of the cosmic background radiation that shows slight variations in temperature. I understand the radiation is coming to us from the edge of the universe, or the farthest point of the visible universe. Is that right? That confuses me. Imagine you're in an explosion. You will experience radiation from all directions and all distance up to the leading edge of the explosion. How can we see these subtle variations in temperature if the big bang radiation permeates the universe rather than originating from the leading edge of the big bang explosion. Or, if the radiation is only generated from the leading edge of the big bang, why?

I understand there was no light from the big bang until a while after it happened. Is this where the 380,000 years comes from. Was light not created until 380,000 years after the big bang. And now it is detected as microwaves due to redshift?

Or, I think it is not microwaves due to redshift, but rather based on black body radiation calculations.

I'm still confused. I'll look this up (or read further) and post a clarification.

--Robert