Shrinking Universe

[Janhatesme]

So this idea just popped into my head while watching a Steven Hawking show on one of the smart-guy channels I watch. Clearly the universe is growing according to mainstream science and I accept that, but is it possible that one day it will begin to shrink?

 

Furthermore, is it possible that the universe pre-big bang was previously a large universe that shrank into the size which big banged? And even furthermore is it possible that this is a cycle that has been occurring over time from negative infinity to positive infinity (in some unit of time)?

 

Obviously, if the first part is impossible than the second part is moot.

[sanctus]

At the moment all our measurements point to that the universe is flat or slightly open (=curvature like a saddle point). In order to contract it should though be with a closed curvature (=curvature like on a sphere). But there are many work-arounds around this I think, at least there are a lot of (serious!) theories. See for instance: Big_bounce and references there.