In various gravity theories, Friedmann equations can be cast to a form of the first law of thermodynamics in a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) cosmological setup. However, this result failed in recent infrared (IR) modified Hořava–Lifshitz (HL) gravity. The difficulty stems from the fact that HL gravity is Lorentz-violating. Motivated by this problem, we use the Misner–Sharp mass to investigate the thermodynamics near the apparent horizon in HL cosmology. We find that the Friedmann equations can be derived from the first law of thermodynamics. The Misner–Sharp mass used here inherits the specific properties of HL gravity since it is directly from the gravitational action of HL theory. We also prove that the first law of thermodynamics with logarithmic entropy still holds at the apparent horizon in FRW. The results suggest that the general prescription of deriving the field equation from thermodynamics still works in the HL cosmology.

The apparent discovery of logarithmic entropies has a significant impact on IR deformed Hořava–Lifshitz (IRDHL) gravity in which the original infrared (IR) property is improved by introducing three-geometry's Ricci scalar term "μ4 R" in action. Here, we reevaluate the Hawking radiation in IRDHL by using recent new Hamilton–Jacobi method (NHJM). In particular, a thorough analysis is considered both in asymptotically flat Kehagias–Sfetsos and asymptotically non-flat Park models in IRDHL. We find the NHJM offers simplifications on the technical side. The modification in the entropy expression is given by the physical interpretation of self-gravitation of the Hawking radiation in this new Hamilton–Jacobi (HJ) perspectives.

In this paper, we study a big bounce universe typified by a non-singular big bounce, as opposed to a singular big bang. This cosmological model can describe radiation dominated early universe and matter dominated late universe in FRW model. The connections between thermodynamics and gravity are observed here. In the early stage of both cold and hot universes, we find there is only one geometry containing a 4D de Sitter universe with a general state parameter. We also find the form of the apparent horizon in the early universe strongly depends on the extra dimension, which suggests that the influence of the extra dimension could in principle be found in the early universe.Moreover, we show that in the late stages of both cold and hot universes, the moment when the apparent horizon begins to bounce keeps essentially in step with the behavior of the cosmological scalar factor.