Thank you, Lars, for your information.
I am fine with the point you are making, and we can (should) debate the definition of the word universe.
The word universe can be declared to indicate space, which is indeed infinite. But the word can also point to matter, which is finite (albeit of enormous qualities). Both definitions are correct at the same time and you are correct that I should declare which one is which in my story. I will need to read the story again to see if I must do so or whether I can count on the reader to understand the terminology correctly already. Sometimes explaining the finer details takes away from describing the contents of the delivery itself.
The universe I am referring to is that of the material universe, at the age of 380,000 (379,000) light years old.
I am claiming that this point it the actual point where we should have the clock start, our material clock that is. The year zero (or the year one for the scientific purists among us) is not the starting point for the clock of the universe (space and dark energy), but for the clock of the material universe. I have no idea how old Universe 1.0 would be, but I am claiming that Universe 2.0 is 380,000 younger than currently considered.
How matter could have come into existence is not explained in the Big Bang theory, but the Big Whisper theory (and its spin-offs) does provide a logical explanation (though I do not articulate the specifics to any high degree, just the model). There is a preexisting reality that has energy but not yet matter, and the moment for matter to occur as we know it takes up a lot of space; definitively not a pinprick. I understand why matter came into being and I hope to share that with as many people as possible before I die. I have no idea where (dark) energy came from.
Here are the alternatives to the alternate model.
Lars, thank you again for your information and for making me look at my story with better eyes. I appreciate it.
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Lars, I read the story once again, and the point you are making is of a very refined level. I do not provide a reason why the background radiation is coming from all directions (other than the obvious that we are inside our material reality and we probably have a hard time seeing any edges to it, much like our not seeing stars in the daytime).
The radius of 380,000 light years is that of time. I did not figure this out by myself and copied and pasted it, using this moment to help explain the model. Naturally, time is connected to space, and the moment for the CMBR to have occurred can be placed in a spatial setting.
We can distinguish the spatial setting from the specific properties of the radiation. They need not be one and the same. I feel therefore confident that I can leave the wording as is (and have the model be explained in a way anyone can understand). But I want you to know that I do appreciate your education.
