Section 1.1: The Black Hole Information Paradox

A fundamental principle in science is the conservation of information, which posits that information cannot simply vanish. For instance, even if a piece of wood is reduced to dust, the information contained in its particles remains intact. If properly analyzed, this information could theoretically reconstruct the original piece of wood.

Conversely, black holes appear to defy this principle.

It's crucial to note that black holes are not entirely devoid of light; they emit radiation and gradually lose mass in the process. Eventually, if isolated, they will "evaporate" and disappear. This phenomenon is known as Hawking Radiation, yet it seems disconnected from the information contained within the black hole itself. Analyzing this radiation would yield only the black hole's total mass, angular momentum, and electric charge, leaving us to wonder: where does all the remaining information go?

This paradox presents a dilemma: although black holes are real, the existence of such contradictions suggests a significant misunderstanding.

Proposals to reconcile this paradox include:

• The possibility that Hawking Radiation holds more information than currently recognized.
• The Holographic Principle, suggesting that the information is encoded in the two-dimensional surface of the event horizon.
• The quest for a unified theory that merges quantum physics with general relativity.

Section 1.2: Rethinking Black Holes: The Fuzzball Theory

String Theory puts forth the audacious hypothesis that black holes are not actual holes but rather compressed strings that simulate their appearance and effects.

A brief overview of String Theory reveals its potential as a Theory of Everything.

Similar to how a neutron star forms when electrons merge with protons to create a predominantly neutron body, a black hole emerges when that state undergoes further compression.

In this scenario, tightly packed neutrons lose their structure, transforming into an enormous sea of elementary strings that intertwine and stretch. This results in what is termed a "Fuzzball."

Calculations indicate that the Fuzzball's radius would correspond with the Schwarzschild radius that all black holes must adhere to. They would cause light to redshift to such an extent that they would appear indistinguishable from traditional black holes. Additionally, they would still exhibit gravitational lensing and time dilation effects.

Importantly, Fuzzballs would lack an event horizon, yet from afar, they would seem identical to black holes. Their thickness would be approximately one Planck length.

As such, Fuzzballs preserve all the relativistic properties of a black hole while eliminating its paradoxes. All information is retained within the intricate web of strings that constitute the Fuzzball, precluding the existence of a singularity with infinite density. Beneath the surface of these strings, there is a void—no spacetime exists, which means there is no central point.