The Black Hole Information Paradox - A Review of Proposed Resolutions and Modern Developments

This paper provides a structured review of the black hole information paradox — a fundamental conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics arising from Hawking's 1974 discovery that black holes emit thermal radiation and slowly evaporate. Five leading proposed resolutions are examined: information loss and the incompleteness of quantum mechanics; Einstein–Rosen bridges and white holes; black hole complementarity; the holographic principle; and the black hole firewall hypothesis. Each proposal is analysed with respect to the physical principles it preserves or sacrifices. Modern theoretical developments are then discussed, including the Page curve, the island formula, and the AdS/CFT correspondence, which together represent the most significant recent progress toward a resolution. The island formula in particular demonstrates that the Page curve can be reproduced within semi-classical gravity, providing strong evidence for information preservation. While no consensus has been reached, these developments suggest that a complete solution will require a deeper unification of spacetime geometry and quantum information theory.