The dynamic universe: space as a spherically closed zero-energy system

Recent observations, particularly from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), have revealed unexpectedly massive compact objects and rapidly emerging galactic structures at very early cosmic times. Although these findings do not invalidate the empirical success of the standard ΛCDM cosmological model, they expose conceptual and interpretive concerns that motivate a reassessment of its foundational assumptions. In this study, we present the Dynamic Universe (DU) framework, which examines the zero-energy exchange between gravitation and motion as a mechanism for the rapid early development of the universe. In DU, space is described as the three-dimensional surface of a four-dimensional sphere, or a 3-sphere. The zero-energy process, a contraction–expansion cycle, naturally leads to an energetically rich early universe and the rapid formation of compact, energy-concentrating structures. The DU framework provides a holistic perspective in which relativity emerges as a consequence of the overall energy balance, and inertia acquires a quantitative interpretation as work against global gravitation, which is consistent with Mach’s principle. In this study, we review the historical development of the zero-energy principle and spherically closed space, derive central cosmological relations within the DU framework, and discuss their consistency with observations and with the corresponding predictions of ΛCDM cosmology.