To understand black holes, physicists turn to a mathematical ‘Rosetta stone’

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Science News By Emily Conover 5/8/2026

A link between particle physics and gravity applies to Hawking radiation

Physicists have found a new way to investigate a long-standing black hole enigma using the mathematics of particle physics.

Black holes aren’t entirely black. They emit a faint mist of particles called Hawking radiation, a concept central to major puzzles that swirl around black holes. But Hawking radiation is so faint that it’s not possible to observe directly.

Now, several teams of physicists have found a new angle on the phenomenon. They are taking advantage of a mathematical connection between two seemingly distinct types of physics — a link known as the double copy.

Fundamental physics theories fall into two distinct camps: A theory called the standard model describes the physics of subatomic particles, while the general theory of relativity describes gravity. The double copy draws a mathematical connection between these two seemingly separate theories. That relationship can be used as a mathematical translation tool, switching a calculation from one “language” of physics to another. The swap can make calculations easier or reveal new insights.

Hawking radiation alone is intriguing enough for further study. After physicist Stephen Hawking conceived of the radiation in 1974, physicists realized it implied a puzzle. As a black hole spews particles, it shrinks and eventually obliterates itself. Physicists don’t understand what happens to the information it once swallowed. According to quantum physics, information can’t be destroyed. Studying features of Hawking radiation translated into the language of the standard model may help illuminate what’s going on.

Hawking radiation is a “Rosetta stone” problem, says theoretical physicist John Joseph Carrasco of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., coauthor of one of the Physical Review Letters papers. By studying it, physicists could become more fluent with gravity’s language.

More: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/black-holes-hawking-radiation-double-copy