Since they were first theorised in 1991, the theory of cosmic strings has gained traction.
Cosmic strings are essentially one-dimensional cracks in the fabric of the universe which were created shortly after the Big Bang.
They are thin tubes of energy which weave through the entirety of the universe and could potentially contain so much energy and mass that they would be able to warp space time around them.
J Richard Gott, an astrophysicist at Princeton University who first conceptualised cosmic strings, said: “Cosmic strings are either infinite or they’re in loops, with no ends.
“So they are either like spaghetti or Spaghetti Os.”
As the proposed cosmic strings would be so high in mass, they would have an extremely strong gravitational pull.
Previous research has shown that gravity has the ability to warp spacetime – which is the connection of time and the physical universe.
Albert Einstein theorised that if you were to situate yourself on the edge of a black hole, which have such a powerful gravitational pull that not even light can escape, time would pass more slowly.
The strong gravity of a cosmic string could also have the same effect, and in turn allowing time travel.
The Anderson Institute, a technology research institution in the US, explains: “By manoeuvring two cosmic strings close together – or possibly just one string plus a black hole – it is theoretically possible to create a whole array of ‘closed time-like curves’.
“Your best bet is to fire two infinitely long cosmic strings past each other at very high speeds, then fly your ship around them in a carefully calculated figure eight. In theory, you would be able to emerge anywhere, anytime!”
However, Prof Gott says that to travel back in time just one year, it would take a cosmic loop that contains half the mass of the entire universe, which we cannot do… yet.
Professor Gott told Live Science: “This is a project that a super civilisation might attempt.
“It’s far beyond what we can do. We’re a civilisation that’s not even controlling the energy resources of our planet.”