Cosmic Strings: Hypothetical Threads of the Universe

Cosmic strings are hypothetical, ultra-thin defects in spacetime formed after the Big Bang.
They may be thinner than a proton but stretch across entire galaxies.
A single cosmic string could weigh as much as a mountain per inch.
They’re predicted by some theories of particle physics and early-universe cosmology.
If real, they could warp spacetime, bending light like gravitational lenses.
Cosmic strings might create bursts of gravitational waves as they snap or vibrate.
None have been detected yet, making them one of physics’ great mysteries.
They could help explain the distribution of galaxies across the cosmic web.
Cosmic strings differ from “string theory” strings—they’re large-scale relics, not tiny particles.
Finding them would reveal secrets about the universe’s earliest moments.