Go To Slide: 2001: A Spacetime Odyssey Title Ekpyrotic Universe Philosophical Difference Physical Difference Observational Difference BOTH are consistent Motivations (1) Motivations (2) Motivations (3) Motivations (4) Motivations (5) Motivations (6) Motivations (7) Motivations (8) Motivations (9) Motivations (10) Brane Picture Ultraweak Force Fluctuations Inflation vs. Ekpyrotic (1) Inflation vs. Ekpyrotic (2) Inflation vs. Ekpyrotic (3) Inflation vs. Ekpyrotic (4) Inflation vs. Ekpyrotic (5) Inflation vs. Ekpyrotic (6) Strain vs. Frequency hep-th/0103239 Recent Progress 4d Expansion Recent Progress Initial Conditions? Philosophical Difference Brane Picture