Time is unlike space—it flows only in one direction, a mystery long pondered by scientists. British astrophysicist Sir Arthur Eddington introduced the concept of the “arrow of time” in 1927, highlighting this fundamental difference. Despite its intriguing nature, time has traditionally been overlooked compared to space in physics.
However, recent breakthroughs in spatiotemporal crystals—materials with repeating patterns in both time and space—are reshaping how scientists think about time’s role in physics. These discoveries raise an exciting question: Could time’s unique properties lead to entirely new effects with practical applications?
Researchers from the University of Rostock and the University of Birmingham have made a significant breakthrough by reconsidering the role of time in physics.
They discovered novel flashes of light that seemed to emerge and vanish from nothing. This phenomenon appears magical but is actually rooted in deep mathematical principles, which make it resistant to external disturbances.
Quantum ‘magic’ could explain how space and time emerged
In their experiments, light was made to adhere to a singular point in space-time, behaving in a way never observed before.
Prof. Alexander Szameit of the University of Rostock described it with a striking analogy: “In the beginning, there is nothing. Then physics says, ‘Let there be light!’—and there actually is light at one precise moment in time and space.”
These brief flashes of light aren’t random—they follow deep mathematical principles. Topology, a fundamental branch of mathematics, dictates certain physical behaviors that govern these events.
Due to the one-way flow of time, these space-time topological events exhibit remarkable resilience. Researchers also developed a time- and space-time topology model, highlighting the interplay between momentum and energy gap topology.
They found that they naturally resist interference from experimental errors or stray light, maintaining their integrity even in unpredictable conditions. This built-in protection makes them a fascinating and robust phenomenon in physics.
Unlike previously known states of light, these space-time-topological events naturally resist disturbances. This built-in protection is highly valuable for shaping light waves in areas like imaging, communications, and lasers, where precision and stability are crucial.
These discoveries underscore the importance of reevaluating time’s role in physics, not just for fundamental science, but also for real-world applications. By harnessing the topological properties of time and space, researchers can refine wave control in imaging and communication and even develop topological lasers with enhanced resilience.
Journal Reference:
- Feis, J., Weidemann, S., Sheppard, T. et al. Space-time-topological events in photonic quantum walks. Nat. Photon. (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41566-025-01653-w
