Now, I know a post list this may be heavily derided and ridiculed. I also know that there are some who have advanced educations in this realm that I am to discuss. But just bear with me for a moment or two.
I happen to be watching a Science Channel show on Stephen Hawking and his theories on black holes. One that I've probably seen before or similar to it. It's something that I've had a passing interest in for some time, physics and space in general. To simplify, there is a correlation to the beginning of our universe - the Big Bang - and the phenomenon that occurs in this universe, that of the black hole. The Big Bang is the theory that our universe was begat of a singularity - an infinitely small, infinitely dense point that exploded into all the matter that currently exists. Black holes, on the other hand, is just the opposite - matter, light and energy that compresses into an infinitely small, infinitely dense singular point. Furthermore, there is some evidence that black holes eventually stop consuming matter and seem to dissipate, but the question of what happened to all the energy and matter that was absorbed? This brings into the equation the concept of cosmic branes, which appear to be independent universes, floating about in what is called the bulk. These branes occasionally touch and collide with each other, creating variances in their respective universes.
My theory, which probably is not original, is that the black holes in our universe are the birthing of other universes. Think about it for a moment. A black hole is essentially a collection of matter condensed in an infinite gravitational pull with nowhere to go - but then collapses, or disperses, with no measurable residue. These collapsed black holes could be the rip in the space-time continuum that creates or interacts with other branes.
Essentially, the matter collected into a black hole is spit out into a new universe, a pocket universe that may be a step lower on the hierarchy of our own. This leads to the conclusion that our own universe was spawned from another universe 'above' ours, and that our universe subsequently spits out others.
Again, I am not a student of physics, indeed I am not a student of anything and have no education to speak of. If this theory has indeed been studied and published I would love to take a look at it but have not been able to find any sufficient information. If anyone else has any better insights, then by all means let the discussion begin.