A new theoretical study suggests that black holes may never completely disappear, potentially offering a way to resolve the long-standing black hole information paradox.
One of the biggest unsolved problems in modern physics, known as the “black hole information paradox,” may finally have a compelling solution. The proposed answer could also help explain where the mass of fundamental particles comes from.
In the 1970s, Stephen Hawking showed through semi-classical calculations that black holes are not completely black. Instead, they emit a faint form of radiation that slowly drains their energy until they eventually disappear. This creates a serious conflict with quantum mechanics because it appears to destroy information permanently, violating the principle of unitarity. According to quantum physics, information cannot be erased, yet black hole evaporation seems to do exactly that.
A new study published in the journal General Relativity and Gravitation, led by Richard Pinčák’s team, introduces a possible solution based on the geometry of extra-dimensional space.
Extra Dimensions and Twisting Spacetime
In the study published in General Relativity and Gravitation, the researchers examined the effects of a gravity model called Einstein-Cartan theory in a seven-dimensional framework built on a mathematical structure known as a G2-manifold with torsion. Unlike standard general relativity, this theory allows spacetime not only to bend but also to “twist” through a property called spacetime torsion.
The model produces an intriguing result. At the extreme densities associated with the Planck scale, this torsion creates a repulsive force that opposes gravitational collapse and stops the final stage of Hawking evaporation. Instead of disappearing completely, the black hole leaves behind a stable “remnant” with a predicted mass of about 9*10-41 kg.
