Imagine standing in darkness, then suddenly—light flickers from thin air. It vanishes just as quickly. This isn’t magic, but science’s curious twist on time.
Light That Exists in a Single Moment
Researchers from the University of Rostock and the University of Birmingham have found strange flashes of light. These bursts seem to appear and disappear into nothingness. Their work, published in Nature Photonics, explores how time could shape new kinds of physics.
Time, unlike space, moves only forward. This one-way path, often ignored in science, is now in the spotlight. British astrophysicist Sir Arthur Eddington once spoke of this “arrow of time” back in 1927. Scientists are now giving time the attention it deserves.
Inspired by spatiotemporal crystals—patterns that repeat in both space and time—researchers are asking if time’s quirks can lead to something useful. Their answer: Yes, it can spark entirely new effects in physics.
Let There Be Light—In One Spot, One Time
In their experiments, the scientists made light appear fixed in space and time. Professor Alexander Szameit of the University of Rostock described the moment like something out of a storybook. “There is nothing. Then physics says, ‘Let there be light,’ and there is,” he said.
The flashes are short but not random. They’re shaped by topology, a branch of mathematics that describes how shapes can bend or twist without breaking. Professor Hannah Price of the University of Birmingham explained that these flashes obey deep mathematical laws. Because of that, they don’t get disturbed easily by outside noise.
Robust Light for Real-World Applications
This makes them very stable compared to normal light waves. Dr Joshua Feis from Rostock said most light states are fragile, but not these. Even if experiments go wrong or extra light sneaks in, the flashes stay intact.
Dr Sebastian Weidemann added that this stability is important. It could help in imaging, laser systems or even data communications. Scientists may soon be able to shape light more reliably in advanced technologies.
By rethinking the role of time in space-time, these findings open new doors. They could reshape our understanding of physics and reveal new tools for the future.
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