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Actually, I don't. I don't, because I don't know what might influence the rate of burn - or the supply of fuel - over the assumption time frame. How can I be certain that the sun won't suck a planet or two into it that will provide fuel for far longer than what we now believe?

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I think we have to be careful about beating 'certainty' too much. We run the risk of being in a position where we are forced to say, 'if it's not certain, it's not worth knowing' and then progress would be impossible. Are a factual series of events a certainty? Well, no but we must reach a stage where the available evidence is such that it is considered fact. You assemble the facts and develop a theory to describe them. Does the theory agree with or reject your hypothesis? The theory is then the basis for further work. If your theory does not stand up to the scrutiny of further work then you must adjust it accordingly. But, if we constantly say 'I don't know because I cannot be certain' how can we continue to work and test scientific theories?

No, we cannot be certain that the Sun will burn for only another 4 billion years but that's the best explanation we have at the moment. I guess the correct thing to say is 'current evidence suggests that the Sun will burn for another 4 billion years'. However, I don't think many people understand the nuance.

I have probably fallen for your rhetoric again Frank

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'97 Montero 'LSR' - 4.6 gears & factory rear locker, 33" Procomp muds on 15x8 steelies, 50mm coil spacers, T-bar crank, Airlift, sans rear sway, 50mm rear frame & fuel tank lift, Aisins, ARB front bumper + 10k lb winch, 50mm DIY body lift, rock sliders, cut rear quarter panels...

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