[MHGinTN]

Does this 'new theory' actually postulate a big crunch? I was under the impression that it refers to the stagnation then re-start without a crunch in the middle ... kind of like a bubble that stretches with each inserted breath, without contracting in between breaths (the breath would be the 'energy field' that is as yet un-identified, that 'breathes' into the bubble).

[LibWhacker]

Right, that's one of the things that seems to be different about this ocillating theory. Also, the "branes" idea is a new one to me, but I'm no expert, that's for sure. This seems to be a new twist on an old idea.

[RightWhale]

That's how this sounds to me, too. It just keeps growing and growing with pauses between growth cycles.