Researchers at the University of Ottawa evaluated an alternative cosmological model called CCC+TL that proposes the Universe is 26.7 billion years old, nearly twice the widely accepted age of 13.8 billion years. The model eliminates the need for dark matter and dark energy by attributing their observed effects to changes in fundamental physical constants over time.
Adjunct professor Rajendra Gupta and postdoctoral researcher Nikolaos Samaras tested CCC+TL against several major astronomical observations throughout 2025 and 2026. The model modifies the Einstein and Friedmann equations that describe gravity and cosmic expansion.
The researchers report that CCC+TL produced results consistent with multiple tests. It predicted light element abundances matching those of the standard cosmological framework. It agreed with cosmic chronometer measurements that track cosmic expansion history. The model reproduced observed galaxy rotation curves without invoking dark matter by examining all 175 galaxies in the SPARC database. Analysis of supernovae time dilation offered additional support, though that paper remains under review.
The model also predicted gravitational effects in the Bullet Cluster, a system of colliding galaxy clusters, that follow the galaxies rather than hot gas, matching observations without requiring dark matter. Gupta emphasizes this result remains an initial proof of concept requiring more detailed investigation.
CCC+TL addresses a puzzle raised by the James Webb Space Telescope. Early galaxies observed at high redshifts appear surprisingly massive and mature. Under the standard model, the Universe was only about 300 million years old during cosmic dawn. CCC+TL places it at roughly 4.6 billion years at the same observed redshift, giving early galaxies billions of additional years to develop. The researchers calculate early galaxies would be approximately 12 times larger in size and mass than standard cosmology predicts.
Gupta states that "impossible early galaxies become predictable galaxies" and predicts galaxies exist beyond distances the James Webb Space Telescope has reached. The telescope's GLIMPSE program aims to search for galaxies at redshifts greater than 50, which could test this prediction. Under conventional models, such extreme distances may not allow enough time for large galaxy assembly.
Although CCC+TL shows encouraging results, the researchers note it remains unconventional and requires further independent examination. The standard cosmological model continues explaining a broad range of observations.