Yes, light rays naturally travel outwards in all directions from their source. This phenomenon is due to the property of light called radiation or light emission.
When light is emitted from a source such as a candle, bulb, or any other light-emitting object, it propagates in all directions. This is because light consists of electromagnetic waves, and these waves spread out from their source in a spherical pattern.
The reason why laser light appears as a straight line is due to a property called "collimation." Laser light is produced through a process called stimulated emission, which allows the light waves to be highly focused and parallel. This collimated beam of light can travel over long distances without significant spreading or divergence.
In contrast, light emitted from sources like candles or bulbs undergoes a process called "diffusion." Diffusion occurs when light waves scatter and spread out in various directions as they interact with the surrounding medium (such as air) and objects. This scattering causes the light to spread in a wider cone, resulting in the perception of light radiating outwards from the source.
So, the different appearances of light rays—straight and collimated in the case of lasers, and spreading outwards in the case of sources like candles or bulbs—are a result of the specific properties and mechanisms involved in their generation and propagation.