The observation of the edge of the observable universe in the near-infrared does not necessarily contradict the idea that the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation is derived from photons due to the expansion of space. Let's delve into the details to clarify this.
The cosmic microwave background radiation is the remnant radiation from the early universe, often referred to as the "afterglow" of the Big Bang. It is believed to have originated when the universe was about 380,000 years old, during a period known as recombination. At that time, the universe cooled down enough for neutral atoms to form, and photons were able to travel freely through space.
The expansion of the universe does not directly generate the CMB. Instead, it plays a crucial role in the evolution of the CMB over time. As the universe expands, the wavelengths of photons traveling through space also stretch, causing their energy to decrease. This phenomenon is known as cosmological redshift. The CMB radiation, initially emitted as high-energy photons in the form of visible light, has now been stretched by the expansion of space to microwave wavelengths, hence the name "cosmic microwave background."
When we observe the edge of the observable universe in the near-infrared or any other wavelength, we are essentially observing the light that has traveled to us from distant regions of the universe. The CMB, on the other hand, is a different component of the overall electromagnetic radiation present in the universe.
So, the observation of the edge of the universe in the near-infrared does not contradict the concept of the CMB being derived from photons due to the expansion of space. These are distinct phenomena, and the observation of one does not invalidate the existence or the origins of the other.