Quantum field theory in curved space-time predicts that black holes have a finite lifetime, proportional to the mass of the black hole. The larger the black hole, the longer it takes to evaporate. This prediction is widely believed because of the theoretical plausibility of the connection it makes between thermodynamics and curved space-time, but it is, nevertheless, an unverified speculation. However, a team of astronomers analysing archive data from the Parkes radio telescope in Australia, have discovered a very short, but very powerful burst of radio-wavelength radiation, estimated to have originated from a source 3 billion light years away. The signature of this radio burst has never previously been seen, and, indeed, the sensitivity of many radio telescopes is insufficient to detect such short bursts. The astronomers speculate that the radiation may be the 'last gasp' of an evaporating black hole. Personally, I wonder if it could just be a statistical fluctuation in the data...
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