Considering space-time to be non-commutative, we study the evolution of the universe employing the approach of Newtonian cosmology. Generalizing the conservation of energy and the first law of thermodynamics to $\kappa$-deformed space-time, we derive the modified Friedmann equations, valid up to the first order, in the deformation parameter. Analyzing these deformed equations, we derive the time evolution of the scale factor in cases of radiation-dominated, matter-dominated, and vacuum (energy)-dominated universes. We show that the rate of change of the scale factor in all three situations is modified by the non-commutativity of space-time, and this rate depends on the sign of the deformation parameter, indicating a possible explanation for the observed Hubble tension. We undertake this investigation for two different realizations of non-commutative space-time coordinates. In both cases, we also argue for the existence of bounce in the evolution of the universe.

In this paper, we derive maximal acceleration of a massive particle in Rainbow gravity. Using eight-dimensional phase-space metric compatible with Rainbow gravity, we obtain the maximal acceleration, valid up to first order in the Rainbow gravity parameter η. Using the positivity condition on maximal acceleration, we find that the upper bound on the Rainbow gravity parameter is of the order of for positron and for a black hole. After obtaining the expression for maximal acceleration for different choices of Rainbow functions, we derive corresponding modifications to Unruh temperature. Comparing with the observational value of the Unruh temperature, we find the upper bound on η as for positron radiation. We then derive geodesic equations for different choices of Rainbow functions and also obtain the Newtonian limit of these geodesic equations. We find that the changes in the value of maximum acceleration, maximum temperature and Newtonian force equation are dependent on the choices of Rainbow functions.

We investigate the response of Casimir energies to fluctuations in a scalar field in the background of a weak gravitational field in $$\kappa $$κ -deformed space-time. We model the Casimir plates in a gravitational field by $$\kappa $$κ -deformed Rindler coordinates and calculate the Casimir energy using the $$\kappa $$κ -deformed scalar field. We show that the Casimir energy accelerates in a weak gravitational field like a mass. Thus, our calculations show that the mass–energy equivalence principle holds in $$\kappa $$κ -deformed space-time even though a length scale is introduced through space-time non-commutativity.