The Oscillating Universe

An alternative theory to inflation

Three-dimensional branes, each housing its own universe, can exist inside an area known as “the bulk”. Two such branes are seen here. Image by Deep Sky.

It was the hottest time of day when the shark washed up on the crowded beach. Directly overhead was the blistering yellow face of the sun, its gleaming rays falling into the pits of footprints in the sand or into plastic buckets painted with sunscreen and melted ice cream. I caught glimpses of the shark — the white clay color of his belly, slackened jaws and then…