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So, no singularity of infinite mass and zero volume as per Einstein, but a prior collapsed universe which gave birth to this one. Penn State's Prof. Martin Bojowald says that according to this theory, it won’t be possible to figure out the properties of the previous universe, just some of the elements involved before and after the Big Bounce. He considers it unlikely that the process creates a succession of identical universes.

Quantum physics is occasionally cursed by those who would like some more substance in the various concepts, but it does produce some interesting ideas. A Big Bounce does make more sense than something out of nothing, and conforms to a lot more laws of physics.

It’s not unreasonable to think that a universe can effectively re-create itself, or something like itself, given the endless recycling of matter we see across the observed universe. We can see the results of two progressive stages of existence, the original forces and the formation of stars and galaxies. Why wouldn’t there be a tertiary process?

Conservation of energy says that energy isn’t lost. Relativity makes energy and mass work together. So what would it do, if it were in a collapsed universe? Quantum and normal physics are not the same thing. But this hybrid theory would appear to at least, for once, drag quantum clear of the difficulties in making its relationship to normal physics a lot easier to understand.

I’ve heard much dumber ideas than this. Quantum physics might be an irritating pain in the thesis, most of the time, but it does at least try to tackle some very big problems in our view of existence.

I should add that Bojowald deserves some credit for scientific guts in this approach. The first thing he had to do was rework Einstein, and he's probably tromped all over a lot of other people's pet theories in the process. Discretion isn't always the better part of valor.