This paper presents a structural reinterpretation of cosmological redshift within a tension-based framework of spacetime. Rather than attributing redshift exclusively to metric expansion of space, the model considers it as a consequence of energy evolution during propagation through a structured medium. Within this framework, light propagates through a medium characterized by tension and spatial organization. As photons travel across large distances, their interaction with this structure may lead to gradual energy redistribution, resulting in an observed shift toward longer wavelengths. Redshift is therefore interpreted as a propagation-dependent effect rather than solely as a measure of universal expansion. The paper explores how this interpretation can account for observed large-scale redshift trends while allowing for additional structure and variation beyond purely expansion-driven models. By framing redshift as an emergent property of propagation within a structured medium, the model provides an alternative perspective on one of the central observables in cosmology. Cosmic Forge Research Series This work is part of the Cosmic Forge research series, which develops a structural approach to physics based on tension, coherence, and scale. Foundational papers: Single Force Theory (SFT) Cosmic Seed Theory (CST) Related papers: Hydrogen Genesis Rethinking the Particle: Proton Knots and Electron Sheaths Cosmic Seed and Galactic Bang Dynamics CMB Reinterpreted Rapid Transitions in Active Galactic Nuclei Cosmic Ray Knee Implications
Robert Fairbanks (Tue,) studied this question.