SEED magazine: How did the universe begin? Did it have a beginning at all? Ever since the discovery of the cosmic background radiation in 1965, the overwhelmingly predominant view has been that our universe began about 14 billion years ago in a cosmic fireball known as the “big bang” and that it has been expanding, cooling, and evolving ever since. Paul Steinhardt describes his and Neil Turok’s new counter theory that the big bang has occurred myriad times in our universe’s past, repeating at regular intervals during which galaxies, stars, planets, and life form anew. The result is a “cyclic universe” in which cycles extend far into the past and into the futureâmdash;and perhaps forever.
For the UNESCO section chief, “striking a balance between global coherence and respect for national ownership and cultural diversity is both essential and complex.”
May 13, 2026 01:46 PM
Get PT newsletters in your inbox
PT The Week in Physics
A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.
One email per week
PT New Issue Alert
Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.
One email per month
PT Webinars & White Papers
The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.