People are convinced old photo showing child holding 'iPad' is 'proof of time travel'

As mankind continues to bring science fiction to life, people are now convinced that a photo from the 1940s is 'proof' that time travel has been achieved.

The picture in question is from 1941 and it details a line of children all dressed smartly and queuing up outside a cinema in Chicago, while one boy gripped onto what some are suggesting is an iPad.

Of course, the first iPad was invented by Apple some 69 years later in 2010 - although the device he's gripping onto has a slightly different finish to it, so it would have been one of the later generations... if it is indeed a tablet.

Will time travel ever be achieved by mankind? It depends which physicist you ask! (Getty stock)

But science keeps proving the impossible to be possible - for instance, a team of scientists from Oxford University teleported particles of light between two quantum computers, while over in Russia a YouTuber has created a retractable lightsaber.

Steps have also been made towards creating an artificial sun through the use of a fusion reactor. The purpose of its creation is to achieve unlimited clean energy for humanity until the end of time, and it can be done through hydrogen isotopes - with a single gram yielding the same amount of energy as 11 tonnes of coal does.

What I'm getting at is our planet's mega-minds are able to bring a lot of our wildest fantasies to life... and I'm not talking about those freaky dolphin ones.

Anyway, an old photo posted to Reddit has sparked a time travel debate with social media users having been left in shock by the picture, which was taken by Edwin Rosskam.

While it's fascinating to see how youngsters were living at a time when World War II was taking place, there is one kid in particular everyone on Reddit is talking about.

Spot the kid with the iPad? (Reddit/Edwin Rosskam)

A boy on the far-right of the shot has many talking, with some believing he may have an iPad in his hand.

I mean, this is impossible. The first iPad was released in 2010, so there can only be one explanation, according to Reddit users... time travel.

"iPad carrying movie goes, all the way to the right," one user wrote, while another claimed the photo provides 'proof of time travel'.

Many other Reddit users flocked to the comments section of the post to provide some more realistic solutions.

"Just getting that early practice pirating films is all. Back in the day of early film, usher's scanned the audience for pens and notepads as to prevent bootleg recreations of the film," one user exclaimed.

And another added: "It's most likely The Holy Bible. They have their Sunday best on, bless their wee souls. Yes, I definitely think that's what it is."