Based on the law of energy conservation, this paper proposes that the total energy of the universe exists in two basic forms, namely matter energy and space energy, which can be mutually transformed. Matter energy is aggregated energy confined in particles, and space energy is diffuse energy of space itself. The transformation direction of the two forms of energy is determined by the energy level changes of microscopic particles. Nuclear fusion is dominated by the transformation of matter energy into space energy, manifesting as energy release accompanied by spatial expansion; while nuclear fission and radioactive decay are dominated by the transformation of space energy into matter energy, manifesting as the backflow of space energy and causing local spatial contraction. This framework subverts many existing theoretical understandings, but provides a unified theoretical basis for understanding many observational phenomena.
Fuyuan Zhang (Thu,) studied this question.