The emergence of the universe

We show how our Universe can emerge from a symmetry breaking of a multicomponent [Formula: see text] algebra, where the components in addition form a Jordan algebra. We discuss how symmetry breaking related to the Jordan algebras [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] over the complex and octonion numbers can lead to an extended four-dimensional spacetime, where the expansion of the Universe is governed by a modified Friedmann equation. We finally discuss how this modified Friedmann equation might explain a number of puzzling cosmological observations.