[Reaganwuzthebest]

A simple search into Google and I come up with this esteemed "theory" the universe may be contracting. It's just that, a theory, like the one that says it's expanding.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Interesting paper. I cannot connect to New Scientist from here so I can't see what the actual idea is. One problem I can see (from the Oz site which may be incomplete) is that the dark matter and dark energy stuff seems to be spread out within the universe. The web site talks about contracting regions which isn't the same as the entire universe contraction. Thanks for finding it.

[altair]

As I read the article (dated 25-November-1999), he only proved that it was possible. But I seem to recall some time in 2000 they made more careful measurements of the flatness of space and proved the universe was open-ended and not destined for a big crunch.