2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/179097We extend the model-independent likelihood analysis of big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) based on He4 and Li7 to allow for numbers of degrees of freedom which differ from the standard model value characterized by $N_ν= 3$. We use the two-dimensional likelihood functions to simultaneously constrain the baryon-to-photon ratio and the number of light neutrinos. The upper limit thus obtained is $N_ν< 4.0$ (at 95% C.L.). We also consider the consequences if recent observations of deuterium in high-redshift QSO absorption-line systems (QSOALS) are confirmed.12 pages, latex, 4 ps figures, requires epsfHigh Energy Physics - PhenomenologyAstrophysicstext