Big Bounce

An artist's interpretation of the Big Bang.

(Image: © Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Lead Producer Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET): Technical Support Krystofer Kim (USRA): Lead Animator)

What happened before the Big Bang?

By Paul Sutter - Astrophysicist 9 hours ago

The Big Bounce theory was once thought impossible. But two physicists have just resurrected it.

In the beginning, there was an infinitely dense, tiny ball of matter. Then, it all went bang, giving rise to the atoms, molecules, stars and galaxies we see today.

Or at least, that's what we've been told by physicists for the past several decades. 

But new theoretical physics research has recently revealed a possible window into the very early universe, showing that it may not be "very early" after all. Instead it may be just the latest iteration of a bang-bounce cycle that has been going on for … well, at least once, and possibly forever. /.../