Focus 26 January 2021

Applied physics and mathematics

This page aims to highlight the most interesting papers published in Nature Communications in the interdisciplinary areas where diverse approaches at the boundaries of physics, mathematics, materials science and engineering take place to create new research opportunities.

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Influence maximization in Boolean networks

Boolean networks modelling various biological processes are characterized by nonlinear reversible dynamics that makes their control challenging. The authors introduce extended concepts of influence and control, typically considered in the study of spreading processes, for Boolean dynamics.
- Thomas Parmer
- Luis M. Rocha
- Filippo Radicchi
Article Open Access 16 Jun 2022 Nature Communications
Self-assembly of highly ordered micro- and nanoparticle deposits

A uniform particle deposition is crucial for sensitive applications, such as sensors and electronics. Here, authors introduce a passive protocol to suppress the coffee-ring effect and form uniform films at micro- and nanoscales combining superhydrophilic substrate with a neutral-wetting low-roughness mold.
- Hossein Zargartalebi
- S. Hossein Hejazi
- Amir Sanati-Nezhad
Article Open Access 2 Jun 2022 Nature Communications
A topological fluctuation theorem

While topology is crucial in complex systems, stochastic thermodynamics uncovers universal constraints for non-equilibrium fluctuations. The authors combine these two areas and formulate a fluctuation theorem for the heat dissipated along closed loops in vortex force fields, which is found to be topologically protected.
- Benoît Mahault
- Evelyn Tang
- Ramin Golestanian
Article Open Access 31 May 2022 Nature Communications
Dynamically actuated soft heliconical architecture via frequency of electric fields

Frequency responsiveness within a broad dynamic range in adaptive systems while also reducing high-frequency induced heating remains a challenge for advanced photonics. Here, authors report a frequency-actuated heliconical soft architecture with reversible modulation of the photonic bandgap in a wide spectral range.
- Binghui Liu
- Cong-Long Yuan
- Quan Li
Article Open Access 17 May 2022 Nature Communications
Shape and structural relaxation of colloidal tactoids

Tactoids, consisting of micro-confined liquid crystalline colloids with self-selected shape, bear both fundamental and technological significance. The authors show that the shape relaxation of tactoids follows an exponential decay and develop a model to predict this out-of-the-equilibrium process.
- Hamed Almohammadi
- Sayyed Ahmad Khadem
- Raffaele Mezzenga
Article Open Access 19 May 2022 Nature Communications
Oscillatory rheotaxis of artificial swimmers in microchannels

Biological and artificial microswimmers often navigate channels under external flow, where in many biomicroswimmers the active upstream motion is oscillatory. Here the authors demonstrate that regular, controllable, and reproducible oscillatory rheotaxis can be observed in artificial microswimmers.
- Ranabir Dey
- Carola M. Buness
- Corinna C. Maass
Article Open Access 26 May 2022 Nature Communications
Marginal speed confinement resolves the conflict between correlation and control in collective behaviour

Bird flocks are known to adjust the orientation and speed of individual birds giving rise to correlations that extend across very large groups. The authors show that marginal control provides an explanation of scale-free correlations of speed fluctuations in natural bird flocks of any sizes.
- Andrea Cavagna
- Antonio Culla
- Pablo Villegas
Article Open Access 10 May 2022 Nature Communications
Reversible morphology-resolved chemotactic actuation and motion of Janus emulsion droplets

Artificial microswimmers can emulate the autonomous regulation of chemotactic motility of living organisms. Frank et al. realize a chemotactic locomotion of emulsion droplets, composed of two phase-separated fluids, that can be reversibly directed up or down a chemical concentration gradient.
- Bradley D. Frank
- Saveh Djalali
- Lukas Zeininger
Article Open Access 10 May 2022 Nature Communications
Electromagnetic wave-based extreme deep learning with nonlinear time-Floquet entanglement

Wave-based analog signal processing has been challenging for complex nonlinear operations such as data forecasting or classification. The authors propose here an analog neuromorphic platform for optical wave-based machine learning characterized by energy efficiency, speed and scalability.
- Ali Momeni
- Romain Fleury
Article Open Access 12 May 2022 Nature Communications
Ultra-narrow room-temperature emission from single CsPbBr₃ perovskite quantum dots

Narrow emission is desired for light-emitting devices. Here, Kovalenko et al. demonstrate that the emission line-broadening in perovskite quantum dots is dominated by the coupling between excitons and surface phonon modes which can be controlled by minimal surface modifications.
- Gabriele Rainò
- Nuri Yazdani
- Maksym V. Kovalenko
Article Open Access 11 May 2022 Nature Communications
Medial packing and elastic asymmetry stabilize the double-gyroid in block copolymers

Double-gyroid networks assemble in diverse soft materials, yet the molecular packing that underlies their complex structure remains obscure. Here, authors advance a theory that resolves a long-standing puzzle about their formation in block copolymers.
- Abhiram Reddy
- Michael S. Dimitriyev
- Gregory M. Grason
Article Open Access 12 May 2022 Nature Communications
The statistical geometry of material loops in turbulence

Turbulent flows are observed in atmosphere, ocean, and technology, with turbulent mixing due to stretching and folding of material elements. The authors analyze a geometric perspective of this process and uncover statistical properties of an ensemble of material loops in a turbulent environment.
- Lukas Bentkamp
- Theodore D. Drivas
- Michael Wilczek
Article Open Access 19 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Comprehensive view of microscopic interactions between DNA-coated colloids

A quantitative prediction of DNA-mediated interactions between colloids is crucial to the design of colloidal structures for optical applications. Cui et al. measure the interaction potential with nanometer resolution and propose a theory to accurately predict adhesion and melting at a molecular level.
- Fan Cui
- Sophie Marbach
- David J. Pine
Article Open Access 28 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Generic self-stabilization mechanism for biomolecular adhesions under load

Cellular adhesions have the remarkable property that they adapt their stability to the applied mechanical load. Here, authors describe a generic physical mechanism that explains self-stabilization of idealized adhesion systems under shear.
- Andrea Braeutigam
- Ahmet Nihat Simsek
- Benedikt Sabass
Article Open Access 22 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Nonlinear wave evolution with data-driven breaking

Wave breaking mechanisms relevant for modelling of ocean-atmosphere interaction and rogue waves, remain computationally challenging. The authors propose a machine learning framework for prediction of breaking and its effects on wave evolution that can be applied for forecasting of real world sea states.
- D. Eeltink
- H. Branger
- T. P. Sapsis
Article Open Access 29 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Introducing principles of synaptic integration in the optimization of deep neural networks

Tasks involving continual learning and adaptation to real-time scenarios remain challenging for artificial neural networks in contrast to real brain. The authors propose here a brain-inspired optimizer based on mechanisms of synaptic integration and strength regulation for improved performance of both artificial and spiking neural networks.
- Giorgia Dellaferrera
- Stanisław Woźniak
- Evangelos Eleftheriou
Article Open Access 7 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Electrically tunable collective motion of dissipative solitons in chiral nematic films

Understanding of the collective motion seen in biological systems is crucial for development of autonomous robots and swarm computing. The authors introduce an experimental platform with liquid crystal driven by external electric field, that mimics the collective motion of living systems.
- Yuan Shen
- Ingo Dierking
Article Open Access 19 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
The neural coding framework for learning generative models

Brain-inspired neural generative models can be designed to learn complex probability distributions from data. Here the authors propose a neural generative computational framework, inspired by the theory of predictive processing in the brain, that facilitates parallel computing for complex tasks.
- Alexander Ororbia
- Daniel Kifer
Article Open Access 19 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Group testing via hypergraph factorization applied to COVID-19

This paper proposes HYPER, a method for screening more people using fewer tests by testing pools formed via hypergraph factorization. HYPER is not only efficient but is also simple to implement, flexible, and has maximally balanced pools.
- David Hong
- Rounak Dey
- Edgar Dobriban
Article Open Access 5 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Dynamics of ranking

Ranking lists are relevant to various areas of nature and society, however their evolution with the elements changing rank in time remained unexplored. The authors uncover a mechanism of ranking dynamics induced by the flux governing the arrival of new elements in the list, for improved predictability of ranking models.
- Gerardo Iñiguez
- Carlos Pineda
- Albert-László Barabási
Article Open Access 28 Mar 2022 Nature Communications
Amontons-Coulomb-like slip dynamics in acousto-microfluidics

Acoustic waves can be used to manipulate particles and fluids in biomedical applications. The authors show that slip at the fluid-solid interface, characterized by a lower acoustic transmission into the fluid, is similar to Amontons-Coulomb friction, as found between solids.
- Aurore Quelennec
- Jason J. Gorman
- Darwin R. Reyes
Article Open Access 22 Mar 2022 Nature Communications
Stress distribution and surface shock wave of drop impact

The dynamic process behind the low-speed drop-impact erosion remains challenging to understand. Cheng et al. develop a method of high-speed microscopy, revealing the fast propagation of self-similar stress maxima underneath impacting drops and the formation of surface waves on impacted substrates.
- Ting-Pi Sun
- Franco Álvarez-Novoa
- Xiang Cheng
Article Open Access 31 Mar 2022 Nature Communications
A metafluid with multistable density and internal energy states

Investigating and tailoring the thermodynamic properties of different fluids is crucial to many applied fields such as energy and refrigeration cycles. Here, authors use multistable, gas filled, particles suspension to enhance the macro-properties of thermodynamic fluids.
- Ofek Peretz
- Ezra Ben Abu
- Amir D. Gat
Article Open Access 5 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Rigidly flat-foldable class of lockable origami-inspired metamaterials with topological stiff states

While origami-inspired metamaterials can spatially fold, they usually collapse along the deployment direction limiting applicability. Here authors introduce a cellular structure that can be reprogrammed in-situ to not only deploy and rigidly flat-fold but also lock and offer rigidity across all directions.
- Amin Jamalimehr
- Morad Mirzajanzadeh
- Damiano Pasini
Article Open Access 5 Apr 2022 Nature Communications
Scientific multi-agent reinforcement learning for wall-models of turbulent flows

Simulations of turbulent flows are relevant for aerodynamic and weather modeling, however challenging to capture flow dynamics in the near wall region. To solve this problem, the authors propose a multi-agent reinforcement learning approach to discover wall models for large-eddy simulations.
- H. Jane Bae
- Petros Koumoutsakos
Article Open Access 17 Mar 2022 Nature Communications
Universality, criticality and complexity of information propagation in social media

The authors identify characteristic patterns that describe the propagation of information in online social media platforms. They show that, depending on the topic, the information flows can spread as simple or complex contagion processes, operating at a critical regime.
- Daniele Notarmuzi
- Claudio Castellano
- Filippo Radicchi
Article Open Access 14 Mar 2022 Nature Communications
Transition from simple to complex contagion in collective decision-making

In consensus-based collective dynamics, the occurrence of simple and complex contagions shapes system behavior. The authors analyze a transition from simple to complex contagions in collective decision-making processes based on consensus, and demonstrate it with a swarm robotic system.
- Nikolaj Horsevad
- David Mateo
- Roland Bouffanais
Article Open Access 17 Mar 2022 Nature Communications
A method for quantitatively separating the piezoelectric component from the as-received “Piezoelectric” signal

Difficulties in separating tribo and piezoelectric hybrid signals can lead to an overestimated contribution of the latter. Here, authors propose a method to separate these hybrid signals in the time domain, precisely extracting piezoelectric charge transfer for performance evaluation.
- Chaojie Chen
- Shilong Zhao
- Zhong Lin Wang
Article Open Access 16 Mar 2022 Nature Communications
Forecasting the outcome of spintronic experiments with Neural Ordinary Differential Equations

Deep learning has an increasing impact to assist research. Here, authors show that a dynamical neural network, trained on a minimal amount of data, can predict the behaviour of spintronic devices with high accuracy and an extremely efficient simulation time.
- Xing Chen
- Flavio Abreu Araujo
- Damien Querlioz
Article Open Access 23 Feb 2022 Nature Communications
Anisotropic fluid with phototunable dielectric permittivity

Light stimuli are widely used to control material properties, yet it remains challenging to reversibly photocontrol the dielectric permittivity. Nishikawa et al. achieve this goal in an anisotropic fluid via its liquid crystal phase transition induced by isomerization of an azobenzene-tethered phototrigger.
- Hiroya Nishikawa
- Koki Sano
- Fumito Araoka
Article Open Access 3 Mar 2022 Nature Communications
Recovery coupling in multilayer networks

Infrastructure and power systems are often represented as multilayer structures of interdependent networks. Danziger and Barabási demonstrate the presence of recovery coupling in such systems, where the recovery of an element in one network requires resources from nodes and links in another network.
- Michael M. Danziger
- Albert-László Barabási
Article Open Access 17 Feb 2022 Nature Communications
Data-driven modeling and prediction of non-linearizable dynamics via spectral submanifolds

Current data-driven modelling techniques perform reliably on linear systems or on those that can be linearized. Cenedese et al. develop a data-based reduced modeling method for non-linear, high-dimensional physical systems. Their models reconstruct and predict the dynamics of the full physical system.
- Mattia Cenedese
- Joar Axås
- George Haller
Article Open Access 15 Feb 2022 Nature Communications
Cooperation in a fluid swarm of fuel-free micro-swimmers

The authors introduce a light powered artificial micro-swimmers performing biological-like dynamics relevant for swarm robotics. The experimental dense swarms are shown to form artificial active clusters with internal fluid-like and turbulent dynamics, similar to real swarming bacteria.
- Matan Yah Ben Zion
- Yaelin Caba
- Paul M. Chaikin
Article Open Access 10 Jan 2022 Nature Communications
Hydrodynamic manipulation of nano-objects by optically induced thermo-osmotic flows

The manipulation of nano-objects in liquid environments is relevant for sensor systems, chemical design, and screening in medical applications. The authors propose an approach to manipulate nano-objects based on nanoscale hydrodynamic boundary flows induced by optical heat generation.
- Martin Fränzl
- Frank Cichos
Article Open Access 3 Feb 2022 Nature Communications
Boundary curvature guided programmable shape-morphing kirigami sheets

Kirigami, a traditional paper cutting art, offers a promising strategy for 2D-to-3D shape morphing through cut-guided deformation. Here, authors report a simple strategy of cut boundary curvature-guided 3D shape morphing and its applications in non-destructive grippers and dynamically conformable heaters.
- Yaoye Hong
- Yinding Chi
- Jie Yin
Article Open Access 26 Jan 2022 Nature Communications
Learning efficient navigation in vortical flow fields

Navigation and trajectory planning in environments with background flow, relevant for robotics, are challenging provided information only on local surrounding. The authors propose a reinforcement learning approach for time-efficient navigation of a swimmer through unsteady two-dimensional flows.
- Peter Gunnarson
- Ioannis Mandralis
- John O. Dabiri
Article Open Access 8 Dec 2021 Nature Communications
Vesicle shape transformations driven by confined active filaments

Systems of confined active filaments within a deformable vesicle are of relevance for development of active materials constructed from anisotropic particles. The authors propose a framework to control the transformations of the vesicle shape and filament organization.
- Matthew S. E. Peterson
- Aparna Baskaran
- Michael F. Hagan
Article Open Access 13 Dec 2021 Nature Communications
Spontaneous dewetting transitions of droplets during icing & melting cycle

Despite promising for anti-icing applications, structured superhydrophobic surfaces usually lose their hydrophobicity after a few icing/melting cycles. Here, authors investigate specific structured surfaces and air bubbles on frozen ice droplets to propose three criteria to enable dewetting transitions.
- Lizhong Wang
- Ze Tian
- Minlin Zhong
Article Open Access 19 Jan 2022 Nature Communications
Emergence of the London Millennium Bridge instability without synchronisation

The pedestrian-induced oscillation of the London Millennium Bridge is considered as an example of emerging synchronisation. Belykh et al. provide an alternative mechanism for emergence of coherent oscillatory bridge dynamics where synchrony is a consequence, not the cause, of the instability.
- Igor Belykh
- Mateusz Bocian
- Allan McRobie
Article Open Access 10 Dec 2021 Nature Communications
Learning neural network potentials from experimental data via Differentiable Trajectory Reweighting

In machine learning approaches relevant for chemical physics and material science, neural network potentials can be trained on the experimental data. The authors propose a training method applying trajectory reweighting instead of direct backpropagation for improved robustness and reduced computational cost.
- Stephan Thaler
- Julija Zavadlav
Article Open Access 25 Nov 2021 Nature Communications
Predicting thickness perception of liquid food products from their non-Newtonian rheology

What drives the mouthfeel of ’thickness’? When is a soup too ’thick’? Here, authors measure the rheology of liquid soups and show their subjectively perceived ’thickness’ can be directly associated to their non-Newtonian rheology.
- Antoine Deblais
- Elyn den Hollander
- Krassimir P. Velikov
Article Open Access 3 Nov 2021 Nature Communications
Metamachines of pluripotent colloids

Mobile micromachines have the potential to probe and manipulate matter at small scales emulating the biological machinery of living organisms. Here, the authors take advantage of the anisotropy of self-propelled colloidal heterodimers to control anisotropic and reprogrammable interactions between particles.
- Antoine Aubret
- Quentin Martinet
- Jeremie Palacci
Article Open Access 4 Nov 2021 Nature Communications
Spectral analysis of climate dynamics with operator-theoretic approaches

The Earth’s climate system is highly complex, however it exhibits certain persistent cyclic patterns like the El Niño Southern Oscillation. The authors apply the spectral theory of dynamical systems and data science techniques to extract such coherent modes of climate variability from high-dimensional observational data.
- Gary Froyland
- Dimitrios Giannakis
- Joanna Slawinska
Article Open Access 12 Nov 2021 Nature Communications
Friction modulation in limbless, three-dimensional gaits and heterogeneous terrains

A long puzzle in snake’s locomotion, sidewinding allows them to travel at an angle and reorient in some environments without loss of speed. Here, authors provide a mathematical argument to the evolution of sidewinding gaits and reinforce an analogy between limbless terrestrial locomotion and optics.
- Xiaotian Zhang
- Noel Naughton
- Mattia Gazzola
Article Open Access 19 Oct 2021 Nature Communications
Substrate colonization by an emulsion drop prior to spreading

In classical wetting, the spreading of a drop on a surface is preceded by a bridge directly connecting the drop and the surface, yet it ignores the solubility of the drop phase in the medium. Here, the authors show that dissolved drop fluid from the parent drop can nucleate on the surface as islands, one of which coalesces with the parent drop to effect wetting.
- Suraj Borkar
- Arun Ramachandran
Article Open Access 30 Sep 2021 Nature Communications
Tree-based machine learning performed in-memory with memristive analog CAM

Tree-based machine learning algorithms are known to be explainable and effective even trained on limited datasets, however difficult to optimize on conventional digital hardware. The authors apply analog content addressable memory to accelerate tree-based model inference for improved performance.
- Giacomo Pedretti
- Catherine E. Graves
- John Paul Strachan
Article Open Access 4 Oct 2021 Nature Communications
Inverse design of glass structure with deep graph neural networks

The inverse design of the material for given target property is challenging for glasses due to their disordered non-prototypical structure. Wang and Zhang propose a data-driven property oriented inverse approach for design of glassy materials with desired functionalities.
- Qi Wang
- Longfei Zhang
Article Open Access 9 Sep 2021 Nature Communications
Between synchrony and turbulence: intricate hierarchies of coexistence patterns

Systems of interacting oscillatory units show various types of dynamics, from uniform low-dimensional motion to high-dimensional disorder. The authors follow the path from synchronous to turbulent state via variety of complex patterns that split and collide, explaining mechanisms of their formation.
- Sindre W. Haugland
- Anton Tosolini
- Katharina Krischer
Article Open Access 24 Sep 2021 Nature Communications
Are Shockley-Read-Hall and ABC models valid for lead halide perovskites?

Charge dynamics in perovskite is not well-understood, limited by the knowledge of defect physics and charge recombination mechanism, yet the ABC and SRH models are widely used. Here, the authors introduce advanced PLQY mapping as function of excitation pulse energy and repetition frequency to examine the validity of these models.
- Alexander Kiligaridis
- Pavel A. Frantsuzov
- Ivan G. Scheblykin
Article Open Access 7 Jun 2021 Nature Communications
Unified theory for light-induced halide segregation in mixed halide perovskites

Mixed halide perovskite undergoes halide segregation under illumination, which impairs its functionality as solar cells. Bobbert et al. present a unified thermodynamic theory to explain the phase separation behaviour that takes into account both ground state compositional and electronic part of free energy in the presence of photocarriers.
- Zehua Chen
- Geert Brocks
- Peter A. Bobbert
Article Open Access 11 May 2021 Nature Communications

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