Stephen Hawking's black hole theory has big implications for the shape of the universe, new study claims

An illustration of a spinning black hole with multicolor light.

A theoretical phenomenon proposed by famed physicist Stephen Hawking may have changed the shape of the universe, new research proposes.

In the 1970s, Hawking introduced a groundbreaking concept: Black holes — traditionally viewed as cosmic entities that engulf everything in their vicinity — might emit radiation similar to the way a heated object does. This phenomenon, now known as Hawking radiation, remains theoretical due to the minimal emission power calculated for stellar and supermassive black holes.