  We explore the physics of three-dimensional shell-shaped condensates,
relevant to cold atoms in "bubble traps" and to Mott insulator-superfluid
systems in optical lattices. We study the ground state of the condensate
wavefunction, spherically-symmetric collective modes, and expansion properties
of such a shell using a combination of analytical and numerical techniques. We
find two breathing-type modes with frequencies that are distinct from that of
the filled spherical condensate. Upon trap release and subsequent expansion, we
find that the system displays self-interference fringes. We estimate
characteristic time scales, degree of mass accumulation, three-body loss, and
kinetic energy release during expansion for a typical system of Rb87.
