Before the Big Bang

Although existing mathematical models have been able to describe the universe with relatively descent accuracy from the Big Bang on, they fall into squalor when applied to the fraction of a second existing before it and "time zero." In order to describe what happened before that explosive beginning of the current era of our universe, theoretical physicist Martin Bojowald at Pennsylvania State University has employed loop quantum gravity, bringing the previously infinite levels of energy and space-time warping into the realms of the finite. Although LQG is not new, Bojowald simplified it to be able to trace some properties of the universe back to T=0, a point he calls the "Big Bounce" where the previous universe collapsed in on itself before exploding back out again. Tracing past time zero, however, seems to be impossible due to the universal slate being effectively wiped clean during the bouncing process.