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What Happened Before the Big Bang . . . ?

What Happened Before the Big Bang?
The Big Bounce theory was once thought impossible. But two physicists have just resurrected it.
By Paul Sutter | Science Outreach Contributor

SPACE.COM - April 26, 2020 | 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.

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iFfTjYRJ7W36v95EpZziPh-650-80.jpg

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)


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.

Of course, before physicists decide to toss out the Big Bang in favor of a bang-bounce cycle, these theoretical predictions will need to survive an onslaught of observation tests.

Bouncing Cosmologies
The Conflagration
Before the Beginning

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