In a breakthrough that sounds almost like magic, scientists have discovered a way to create flashes of light that seem to come from nowhere and vanish just as mysteriously.
But this isn’t a trick—it’s the result of rethinking how time itself can shape the laws of physics.
Researchers from the University of Rostock and the University of Birmingham have published their findings in Nature Photonics, opening up exciting possibilities for future technologies.
Time has always been the odd dimension out. While we can move freely in space, time marches only forward.
This “arrow of time” was famously described by British astrophysicist Sir Arthur Eddington nearly a century ago.
Yet, despite its uniqueness, time has traditionally received less attention in physics compared to space.
That is starting to change. Recent studies on “spatiotemporal crystals” — structures that repeat patterns across both space and time — have inspired scientists to think differently about time’s role. Could time’s one-way nature lead to entirely new physical effects?
The new research answers that question with a bold yes. By carefully designing experiments, the team managed to make light appear at a single, exact moment in space and time.
“It’s almost biblical,” said Professor Alexander Szameit of the University of Rostock. “At first there is nothing, and then physics says, ‘Let there be light!’—and there it is, at one point in space and time.”
But these bursts of light aren’t random. They follow deep principles of mathematics known as topology. Professor Hannah Price from the University of Birmingham explains that topology, though abstract, lays down rules that govern physical behavior. Thanks to these mathematical rules, the flashes of light are remarkably stable.
Because time only moves forward, these special events are naturally protected against outside disturbances, like random changes in the experiment or stray light. Dr. Joshua Feis from Rostock noted that this kind of stability is rare; most known states of light are easily disturbed by outside factors.
Dr. Sebastian Weidemann added that this built-in protection could be extremely useful in real-world applications, such as improving imaging systems, communications, and laser technologies.
The discovery shows that by treating time as more than just a background setting—and combining it with the powerful ideas of topology—scientists can find entirely new phenomena. It’s a reminder that even in well-explored fields like physics, there are still hidden treasures waiting to be uncovered.
By embracing time’s strange and unique nature, researchers have opened a new chapter in understanding the universe—and the door to future discoveries.
