Inflation resolves several outstanding problems in standard Big Bang cosmology. Among these are the observed flatness of the universe (the [flatness problem]?), its extraordinary homogeneity on large (non-causally-connected) scales (the [horizon problem]?), and its lack of any observed topological defects. Topological defects (kinks in a massless scalar field) such as monopoles, cosmic strings, and domain walls, are predicted by many [Grand Unified Theories]?.
Predictions of the standard model of inflation include geometrical flatness of the universe to high precision and [scale invariance]? of the fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background. There are also consequences for high-energy particle physics near or at the GUT scale.