Are there shortcuts through space? According to accepted models of general relativity, it is feasible in areas of intensely strong gravity for the fabric of local space-time geometry to become so severely warped that it folds in on itself and "re-connects" to another area in space-time -- perhaps another universe, or another place and time in our own. The connections are called "wormholes," and have often been postulated as potential means of traveling to distant stars and galaxies.
Unfortunately, the intense gravity needed to produce such an effect -- such as that of a black hole -- collapses the wormhole before it could be used for a real traveler. Astrophysicists remain undaunted, however, and study continues into means of artificially producing a wormhole, and keeping it open long enough to use.
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