Hawking Radiation: Where Quantum Meets Gravity

Hawking radiation is a theoretical prediction that black holes emit thermal radiation due to quantum effects near their event horizon, leading to a gradual loss of mass and eventual evaporation. This phenomenon arises from quantum fluctuations that produce particle pairs, where the positive-energy particle escapes while the negative-energy one falls into the black hole. The process carries important implications for black hole thermodynamics, entropy, and the information paradox. Although strongly supported by theory, Hawking radiation has not yet been directly observed.