I've always assumed that the universe has been exanding for aeons, and millions of universes have been born and died on the way. But it actually looks like we're in at the beginning (relatively speaking, of course).
Is there any evidence that millions of universes have not come and gone?
IIRC, if string theory (and i know near zilch about it so i apologise if i'm mistaken) provides for the possibility of millions of universes existing (think i read this in Nature or Science sometime ago), which we can't really say is the case or not, how can we conclude that there were no universes prior to ours?
Or was paras right, and are you just referring to galaxies within this universe?
"The good Christian should beware the mathematician and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of hell." - St. Augustine