Cosmic acceleration as a gravitational bifurcation

We propose an interpretation of the observed cosmic acceleration in Friedmann universes as a gravitational bifurcation. Mathematically this becomes possible due to the degenerate nature of the Friedmann equations leading to their versal unfolding that contains all possible stable perturbations in a generic way. Physically it corresponds to the tendency of Friedmann universes for non-equilibrium evolution leading to self-organization, and maintaining overall stability through local instabilities emerging as parameter-dependent states. In this way, we obtain a variety of accelerating solutions attracted by past Milne-like and future open states describing geometries with evolving entropy which are near the simplest Friedmann universes (in a precise sense), without a need for a cosmological constant or vacuum energy, quintessence, or modified gravity.