And for the age of the stars there is a fantastic book called "Starlight and Time" written by an astrophysicist named Dr. Russel Humphrey that shows mathematical reasons as to how if the earth is in the position of an "event horizon" we will see the planets as being so far but experience what is only 6 days to us. Most of the book is over my head, but there is science out there that supports a young earth that should not be ignored, but unfortunately it is.
I would not say it is ignored. These things have been looked at and explained. For example the canyon at Mt. St. Hellens was cut through ash. That is very different than cutting through basalt and granite.