Phy.org - Science: Astronomy: Cosmology: Earliest Universe: String Cosmology

2001: A Spacetime Odyssey - A lecture on colliding branes and the origin of the hot big bang by Paul Steinhardt (Princeton University). Comprises RealPlayer stream and slides; hosted by the University of Michigan.
A Simple Introduction to Pre-Big-Bang Physics/Cosmology - Introduction to pre-big bang scenarios based on string theory, with a focus on physical motivations, considerations, and consequences. By Gabriele Veneziano (CERN); suitable for graduate students and researchers.
Brane Cosmology - Lecture notes based on summer school lectures given in 2001 by E. Papantonopoulos (National Technical University of Athens). Suitable for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.
String Cosmology: A Review - Review of cosmological models based on string theory, with a focus on large extra dimensions. Based on a talk by Gerald Cleaver (Baylor University and HARC) at COSPAR '02, Houston, Texas, October 2002. Presupposes previous knowledge in astronomy and particle physics.
The Cyclic Universe - Introduction to the ekpyrotic universe, written by the model's creators, Paul J. Steinhardt and Neil Turok. Most of the text can be understood with basic physics knowledge; some sections require advanced knowledge.

Media publications

A Recycled Universe: Crashing Branes and Cosmic Acceleration - Article the ekpyrotic model of cosmology, and related concepts, suitable for a general audience. Written by George Musser and J. R. Minkel, and published in Scientific American. (Published 2002-02-11 00:00:00)
Brane-Storm Challenges Big Bang Theory - Article describing the ekpyrotic model for the physics of the earliest universe. From space.com, suitable for a general audience. (Published 2001-04-18 00:00:00)
Elementary introduction to pre-big bang cosmology and to the relic graviton background - A self-contained introduction to string cosmology and, in particular, to the background of relic cosmic gravitons predicted in the context of the so-called "pre-big bang". The text is aimed at graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and based on notes for lectures held by M. Gasperini at two schools in 1997 and 1998. (Published 1999-07-09 00:00:00)
String Cosmology - An introduction to string theory-based cosmological models. Based on lectures given by Nick E. Mavromatos (King's College, London) at the First Aegean Summer School on Cosmology, Samos, in 2001. Suitable for graduate students and more advanced readers. (Published 2001-11-29 00:00:00)