New Research Suggests Big Bang May Not Be the Beginning After All

A groundbreaking study published in Physical Review D proposes a radical new understanding of the universe's origins, suggesting the Big Bang might not have been the true beginning. Researchers from the University of Portsmouth postulate that the universe may have emerged from a gravitational collapse within a massive black hole, followed by a "bounce" leading to expansion.

Lead author Enrique Gaztanaga and his colleagues argue that the current cosmological model, which relies on a singularity at the Big Bang, encounters fundamental issues, including unanswered questions about the universe's initial conditions. Their model eschews exotic assumptions, relying instead on known physics, demonstrating that gravitational collapse can lead to an expansion without forming a singularity, as reinforced by quantum principles.

This approach could yield predictions verifiable through future astronomical observations, such as a slight positive curvature in the universe's shape. If confirmed by missions like the Euclid project, it would support the "black hole universe" theory, reshaping our understanding of cosmic evolution and our place within it.