What came before the big bang?

image via New Scientist

February 10, 2026, 12:30 PM

• •Scientists are exploring ideas about what existed before the Big Bang, since it is inaccessible to direct observation.
• •Theories include the no-boundary proposal, a cyclical universe, and a CPT-symmetric universe.
• •These models aim to find clues in the present universe to understand its distant past.
• •Researchers are using data from the present and future to test their theories, developing new techniques and instruments for observation.

Physicists are exploring theories about what existed before the Big Bang, a period inaccessible to direct observation. They are developing models using quantum mechanics to understand the early universe's conditions, and proposing ideas like a cyclical universe that expands and contracts, potentially leaving traces of a previous existence. Other theories suggest a CPT-symmetric universe, mirroring the post-Big Bang era. Despite the challenges, these cosmologists aim to push the boundaries of knowledge, seeking clues in the present universe to understand its distant past.

Read original article