[Lancey Howard]

...mapping the universe as it existed roughly 6 billion years ago, when it was only 63 percent of its current size.

So, "universe" is defined as only a large cluster of stars? And the "size" of the universe is only everything between the two stars (that we can observe) most distant from each other? Huh.. When I think of "universe" I think of infinity. That is, not only the stars, but everything beyond the stars. I mean, who's to say there isn't another cluster of stars equal to or greater than all the stars we can observe from earth, a trillion-to-the-trillionth-power-to-the-trillionth-power-to-the-trillionth power light years away?

What would that be? A separate "universe"?

[U-238]

Again, this has been the battle between cosmologists since Edwin Hubble came out with his paper in 1929. What is the age of the universe? My perception that they come up with different ages almost every year.

[Hot Tabasco]

That is, not only the stars, but everything beyond the stars

the thought that there is a star all the way out there and then nothingness beyond that is beyond my comprehension.......