Since I am not a cosmic string expert, I have become involved only because of a very persistent signal pervading the brightness record of the gravitationally lensed Q0957+561 A,B quasar. The signal anomalies have been discussed in the literature for 10 years and appear to be some kind of periodic defect in the structure of space-time. The principal possible origins as gravitational waves or cosmic strings have been noted. Then at last the observations in the 1995-96 era produced evidence that was difficult to understand except as a cosmic string. The properties of the cosmic string loop required conform approximately to those expected for a vibrating string in the GUT. I will also discuss alternative failed explanations, such as gravitational waves or a simple binary star.