Time travel

Time travel (known also as chronovection) is the movement through time. Time travel to the past is impossible within the Universe proper, as it violates the laws of causality. However, seeing the past (chronospectria) copying parts of the past into the present (chronospermia) and even generation of alternate timelines (chronogenesis) are all possible.

All these methods of time travel are immensely difficult and only the most advanced intelligences in the Universe are capable of any of them. The energy needed usually requires black hole draining. Time travel is generally considered to be one of the most advanced forms of technology in the Universe.

Chronospectria
This method, also known as spying or hindsight involves viewing the past. It is usually done using a wormhole. A constant supply of energy is needed to maintain the information flow form the past. Although every detail can be seen, no experimentation is possible as the scene cannot be interfered with from outside.

Chronospermia
This method, also known as ripping, involves copying a large chunk of matter, energy and other information form the past into the present in order to experiment with that piece of information. When studying history in detail, this can involve copying entire continents or even entire planets from the past into the present. In the former case, a shellworld is usually used to house the continent in order to minimise the impact on it.

Chronogenesis
Chronogenesis (sometimes known as budding) is the most advanced form of time travel, and is entirely theoretical. It involves the creation of a partial new dimension, or in some cases an entire new universe, to house an alternate timeline. This is the only instance where it is possible to actually alter the past. Since the new timeline that has been created plays out in a newly made, parallel universe, it does not violate causality. The energies involved in creating a new universe are so immense that it is thought to be impossible even through harvesting the largest black holes.