The widely accepted scientific estimate is that the universe is about 13.8 billion years old. This estimate comes from observing the expansion of the universe and measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation, particularly data from missions like the Planck space observatory and NASA's WMAP satellite. Modern measurements place the age very precisely around 13.79 to 13.81 billion years with a small margin of error.

However, there are recent studies and new models, especially involving observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, suggesting the universe might be older than previously thought—possibly around 26.7 billion years. These newer proposals are based on findings of very early, unexpectedly developed galaxies and different theoretical approaches, but they are still under scientific discussion and not yet widely accepted as definitive.

In summary, the established consensus is an age of about 13.8 billion years, while some emerging research points toward a potentially significantly older universe, though this remains a subject of debate.