Editorials

The idea that science proceeds from 'pure' curiosity to applications is too simplistic — and always has been.

Nature Materials is extending editorial policies regarding transparency of reported data in manuscripts from the physical and life sciences.

Researchers and their institutions must play their full part in ensuring that the exciting changes now sweeping France succeed.

By considering the environmental impact of materials through their whole life cycle, materials scientists can help develop more sustainable alternatives.

Opinion was divided about what the global Marches for Science were about. But it's time to abandon the notion that science should be apolitical.

Convergent efforts of researchers from different fields aim to control spin transport in molecules and develop nanoscale spintronic devices with improved performance or new functionalities.

With the launch of the Quantum Technologies Flagship, the European Union is looking to become a major player in the upcoming quantum revolution, reaping benefits both for technology development and wealth creation for the European society.

The development of new membrane materials for chemical separations is progressing rapidly, and their commercial success will require a more concerted effort from academia and industry.

As the family of 2D materials expands to include transition metal dichalcogenides and Xenes, novel fundamental properties and applications come to light.

Nature Materials now requests that all original research articles contain a Data Availability Statement declaring the accessibility of the data and where it can be found.

The 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry celebrates the development of molecular machinery and highlights the importance of fundamental and curiosity-driven research for furthering science.

Topological semimetals give access to new quantum phenomena — for example, massless fermions have not been observed as elementary particles, yet they can be realized in the form of quasiparticles in these materials — and could allow the development of robust quantum devices.

Commercialization of exciton–polariton research as well as investigation of exciting physical phenomena in exciton–polariton condensates relies on improving material properties.

Medical professionals and robotics engineers count on materials scientists for the development of electronic skins with lifelike tactile sensing capabilities.

The application of advanced materials in aerospace presents multiple scientific and regulatory challenges that must be addressed.

Materials research has long been highly active in China and could offer advanced technologies to boost the economy.

British and European science shall each benefit from continued UK membership of the European Union.

Biomedical applications for graphene are attracting interest from academics and industrial partners aiming to develop next-generation medical devices and therapies.

Basic hurdles in materials modelling, such as access to experimental raw data, thwart fast progress. Governmental and grass-roots initiatives have stepped up to help overcome current limitations.