According to our current understanding of physics, it is not possible for an object with mass to travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum. This limitation is described by Einstein's theory of relativity. As an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its mass would theoretically become infinite, requiring an infinite amount of energy to continue accelerating.
Additionally, if an object were to travel faster than light, it would violate causality, which is the principle that cause and effect must occur in a particular order. This violation would lead to paradoxes, such as effects occurring before their causes, which is not consistent with our understanding of the universe.
Regarding the effect of gravity, it is intertwined with the fabric of spacetime according to general relativity. Gravity can influence the motion of objects, including light, by curving the fabric of spacetime itself. As such, it would be difficult to separate the effects of gravity from the possibility of exceeding the speed of light.
While speculative theories, such as wormholes and faster-than-light travel, have been proposed, they currently remain purely theoretical and lack experimental confirmation. Scientists continue to explore and study the nature of the universe, seeking a deeper understanding of these fundamental concepts.