[snarks_when_bored]

Oh, yes, I thought my title made that clear. It's inflationary cosmology that's helped by this new WMAP data, but not Guth's version only, as it appears. For now, there's still room for Steinhardt's 'ekpyrotic' ideas and Linde's 'eternal chaotic' ideas.

Guth is said to have been walking around with a big smile on his face for the last day or so. Clearly, he's in line for a Nobel prize in Physics. I wouldn't bet against him.

[RightWhale]

I favor a vastly enhanced version of Steinhardt's model. Guth kicked it all off no doubt, but there are far more powerful possibilities starting from that idea and shifting perspective.