[Salman]

I heard of the 'oscillating universe' theory at least as far back as the 1970s. This "new" theory is just an old one dusted off. But then so was 'continental drift', so who can say?

[Junior]

There is some difference between this theory and the oscillating universe theory. In the latter, the universe collapses back in on itself before giving it another go. This current theory says that once the energy level in the current universe(s) reaches a certain low point, the two branes move toward each other, eventually colliding and ushering in a new Big Bang. In other words, in this theory there is no "Big Crunch."