The ekpyrotic universe, or ekpyrotic scenario, is a cosmological moel about the origin and shape of the universe. The name comes from a Stoic term for "out of fire". The ekpyrotic model of the universe is an alternative to the standard cosmic inflation paradigm, both of which accept that the standard big bang Lambda-CDM model of our universe is an appropriate description up to very early times. The ekpyrotic model is a precursor to, and part of the cyclic model. The ekpyrotic model received considerable coverage in the media when it was submitted as a candidate for publication in Physical Review.