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The topological valley Hall effect was predicted as a consequence of the bulk topology of electronic systems. Now it has been observed in photonic crystals, showing that both topology and valley are innate to classical as well as quantum systems.
For a system to exhibit spiral patterns one would expect its parts to behave synchronously, as in a Mexican wave. Proving the contrary, chemical oscillators have now been observed in a state comprising a spiral surrounding an asynchronous core.
Understanding how some single cells evolved into multicellular life means figuring out how they overcome the stresses associated with crowding as they multiply. New insights from yeast suggest that changes in the shape of cells may provide an answer.
Classical wave-driven particles can mimic basic quantum properties, but how far this parallel extends is yet to be seen. Evidence for quantum-like mirages in a system of droplets moving on a fluid surface pushes the analogy into many-body territory.
Dissociating hydrogen gas seems like it should be as easy as pulling apart two identical atoms. But resonant electron-impact experiments reveal that quantum interference induces a fundamental asymmetry in the process.
A state of matter known as a quantum spin liquid has been predicted to host Majorana fermions. Recent neutron scattering and specific heat results add to the growing body of evidence suggesting they exist in the quantum magnet α-RuCl3.
A type of optics experiment called a boson sampler could be among the easiest routes to demonstrating the power of quantum computers. But recent work shows that super-classical boson sampling may be a long way off.
A crystalline organic semiconductor that combines the long spin-relaxation times of organic semiconductors with the high charge-carrier mobilities typically found in inorganic semiconductors provides unprecedented prospects for organic spintronics.
That the unit cell of a metamaterial can't be considered vanishingly small like in ordinary crystals has long been deemed more burden than opportunity. The emergence of a characteristic length scale in metamaterial chains may change that trend.
By engineering photosensitive proteins and tweaking the classical properties of light, it should be possible to tune the response of a cell equipped with photoreceptors. But would these cells be able to sense the subtle quantum properties of light?
Vast beds of 'hair' coat many living systems, and usually exhibit shear-thinning behaviour — their flow resistance lessens with speed. But with geometric tweaks, such beds can also show shear-thickening and asymmetric ratchet-like behaviour.
Topological states of matter offer new opportunities to improve the way we transmit acoustic or optical signals, but existing technologies have proven difficult to scale. The field of active metamaterials may be able to help.
The spontaneous assembly of particulate or molecular 'building blocks' into larger architectures underlies structure formation in many biological and synthetic materials. Shape frustration of ill-fitting blocks holds a surprising key to more regular assemblies.
Flow without friction is a strange phenomenon usually seen in quantum fluids that are cooled to temperatures near absolute zero, but features of superfluidity have now been seen with polaritons at ambient conditions.
