Element abundance predictions

3. Element abundance predictions using the Big Bang
require too many adjustable parameters to make
them work.
The universal abundances of most elements were predicted correctly
by Hoyle in the context of the original Steady State cosmological
model. This worked for all elements heavier than lithium. The Big
Bang co-opted those results and concentrated on predicting the
abundances of the light elements. Each such prediction requires at
least one adjustable parameter unique to that element prediction.
Often, it’s a question of figuring out why the element was either
created or destroyed or both to some degree following the Big Bang.
When you take away these degrees of freedom, no genuine prediction
remains. The best the Big Bang can claim is consistency with
observations using the various ad hoc models to explain the data for
each light element. Examples: [9,10] for helium-3; [11] for lithium-7;
[12] for deuterium; [13] for beryllium; and [14,15] for overviews. For
a full discussion of an alternative origin of the light elements, see
[16].
4. The universe has too much large scale structure
(interspersed “walls” and voids) to form in a time as
short as 10-20 billion years.
The average speed of galaxies through space is a well-measured
quantity. At those speeds, galaxies would require roughly the age of
the universe to assemble into the largest structures (superclusters and
walls) we see in space [17], and to clear all the voids between galaxy
walls. But this assumes that the initial directions of motion are
special, e.g., directed away from the centers of voids. To get around
this problem, one must propose that galaxy speeds were initially
much higher and have slowed due to some sort of “viscosity” of
space. To form these structures by building up the needed motions
through gravitational acceleration alone would take in excess of 100
billion years. [18]