: : : : Lau: With the superstring theory, the big bang is seen as break down from a 10 (or 11 or 12 etc.. depending on which theory) dimensional universe (false-vacuum)to what we now have 4 dimensional space-time. (the vaccum state) The big bang ocurred because nature prefers the lowest energy state and not because of the big crunch.

: After the Big Crunch is finished crunching everything, would it not be in the same state as just before the Big Bang, a possible repeat of history?

Lau: would the big crunch really ocurr? it will have to depend on if there are enough mass in the universe, or maybe whether enough of the dark matter exist.