In a recent research paper, assistant professor Alireza Marandi delves into the innovative realm of mode-locked lasers. These lasers emit light in pulses, providing unparalleled precision and power compared to continuous beams. Marandi’s team enhances these lasers with topological robustness, creating a pattern of pulses that can resist disruptions from noise or imperfections. By “tying knots” in laser pulses, Marandi is pioneering a method to stabilize laser behavior, which can be employed in eye surgery as well as various communication, sensing, and computing applications.