Octonions

Octonions were the key. To the uninitiated, it was describing particles in terms of pure, if high level, mathematics. Once all the particles were calculated out, their interactions became possible to predict without exhaustive and expensive experiments. In a combination no-one thought to try before, a certain combination of fields at specific magnitudes caused a translation in time. As with any scientific endeavor, progress was slow. First mainly quantum levels effects, then nano-scale, and finally up to macroscopic.

At first, it wasn't quite obvious what was happening, some objects were coming back 'younger' while others seemed to return 'older'. Careful examination found that some of the experiments reversing the age of the target – macroscopic processes such as rust were undone, while others seemed to send the object back in time – albeit to a non-obvious place. Wherever this place was, it was inaccessible until the experiment had finished, at which point it became detectable again on the equipment, and a field reversal was possible.

Or so one thought, until an accident caused a field reversal to be generated before the de-timing field was activated. What materialized was their standard experimental block, but now engraved – “If you've found this, you're a big step forward.”