Which component of the Universe's characteristics can be inferred from the age of globular clusters?

The age of globular clusters serves as a valuable tool for estimating the age of the Universe itself. This is because globular clusters are among the oldest known stellar populations, with their formation dating back to the early stages of the Universe. By studying the oldest globular clusters and determining their ages through techniques such as stellar evolution theory and isochrone fitting, astronomers can establish a minimum age for the Universe.

Globular clusters typically contain very old stars, often around 10 to 13 billion years old. Since these clusters formed relatively soon after the Big Bang, their ages offer a strong indication of how long the Universe has existed since that event. As such, measuring the age of globular clusters helps provide a timeline for cosmic history, directly linking it to the age of the Universe itself.

While dark energy, the total mass of galaxies, and the distribution of matter are all important aspects of cosmology, they are not directly measured or inferred from the ages of globular clusters. Dark energy relates more to the expansion rate of the Universe, while the total mass of galaxies and the distribution of matter are addressed through different methods, such as gravitational effects and galaxy surveys. Thus, the connection between globular clusters and the age of the Universe