High-energy protons find applications in imaging and tumour therapy, apart from being central to multiple research areas like nuclear physics, particle physics, accelerator science and material science. While the applications are multifold, their production is limited to massive-scale particle accelerators and big Laser-based systems. Laser-based ion acceleration uses intense light flashes to heat the electrons and ions of a solid to enormous temperatures and propel these charged particles to extreme speeds. Though smaller than conventional accelerators, these setups involve conditions and parameters attainable only by a select few central research facilities, with the lasers generating only a few flashes in a minute. Researchers from TIFR Hyderabad have devised a mechanism to enable protons to be accelerated to a million volts of energy, all on a tabletop. Driven by small-scale laser systems firing a thousand times a second,  the quasi-industrial setup exploits fundamental physics mechanisms previously deemed a hindrance. This new finding promises to deliver protons of comparable energy and flux at a fraction of the cost and complexity of a traditional accelerator system, with the idea being translatable to industries and smaller universities.