New Scientist’s space edition has an article on a new model of our universe, which combines the two currently prevailing models, one suggesting that our universe undergoes an endless cycle of big bangs and big crunches, while the other being of the opinion that only one big bang has and will happen, and that the fate of our universe is to be ripped apart as it extends, leading it to cool down and “die”.

The new model more or less combines these two views, and suggests that rather than starting to fall back into one singularity at some point, the universe will indeed keep expanding. In doing so, it will become divided into billions of small pieces, each serving as a beginning for a new universe. The model comes with the added bonus of being able to shed light on the question why entropy functions as it does in our universe.

Researchers in the United States have come up with a test that could indicate if some of the basic pillars of String Theory do not hold water. While the test (as is typical of empirical tests of theories) cannot prove if String Theory’s view of the universe is actually correct, it is at least welcome news to those who have been concerned about the fact that so far no one has been able to come up with a way to actually test the predictions of the theory.

For the full press release, see EurekAlert!.