Olbers' paradox is an apparently simple question, but its resolution suggests that the universe is finite in age. What is the simple question posed by Olbers' paradox?
A) What would it be like to ride on a beam of light?
B) Can we measure the position and momentum of an electron at the same time?
C) How does the Sun produce energy?
D) Why is the sky dark at night?
E) How many stars are in the universe?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Olbers' paradox asks the question of why the sky is dark at night if there are an infinite number of stars in the universe. If the universe were infinite and had an infinite number of stars, this would mean that no matter where you looked in the sky, you would always be looking at a star, and thus the night sky would not be dark. The solution to this paradox involves the idea that the universe has a finite age and that light from distant stars has not had enough time to reach us yet, thus leaving the sky dark.

Olbers' Paradox Is an Apparently Simple Question, but Its Resolution