The Age of the Universe

The following is a memorandum written by the late Richard Chace Tolman, Professor of Chemistry and Mathematical Physics at the California Institute of Technology. The for this investigation was an informal request from his friend of long standing, Dr. Weaver of the Rockefeller Foundation, for his opinion on the current scientific status of problem of the age of the universe. To answer this Tolman plunged, with characteristic energy thoroughness, into a study of the relevant findings, and synthesized them in the memorandum reproduced. We are greatly indebted to Professor H. P. Robertson who has taken care of the preparations for publication of the manuscript reproduced here.