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The simulation of quantum dynamics is a challenging task to solve with classical resources. An experiment with a trapped-ion quantum processor now shows the efficient simulation of the evolution of large-scale many-body quantum systems.

X-ray ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy captures the charge migration in neutral silane molecules, which shows in the spectra as pairs of quantum beats.

A self-assembled DNA structure is coupled to a nanopore and exhibits continuous rotation in the presence of nanoscale flows driven by electric fields or ionic gradients.

Trapped ion quantum computers can use two different kinds of ion to avoid crosstalk between adjacent qubits. Encoding two different qubit types in only one ion species can achieve the same goal while reducing experimental complexity.

Measurements of four different infinite-layer nickelates show that magnetic behaviour coexists with superconductivity. This is different from what is seen in cuprates, giving a strong distinction between the two classes of oxide superconductors.

Quantum computing with trapped ions requires qubits that can store and manipulate quantum information, and others that can be used for destructive incoherent operations. Different states of ytterbium-171 ions can be used to realize both qubit types

Interactive protocols can verify that a quantum computer exhibits a computational speedup using only classical analysis of its output. Exploiting a connection to Bell’s theorem gives a simpler protocol that is much less demanding for experiments.

A fundamental technical challenge in the analysis of network data is the automated discovery of communities — groups of nodes that are strongly connected or that share similar features or roles. In this Comment we review progress in the field over the past 20 years.

An experiment with photonic waveguides demonstrates the connection between non-Abelian holonomies and adiabatic particle transport, paving the way to the geometric and topological control of light trajectories.

Non-Abelian Thouless pumping, whose outcome depends on the order of pumping operations, has been observed in photonic waveguides with degenerate flat bands.

Epithelial tissues such as those in the gut or skin are strongly polar, generating electric fields that play a role in wound healing and nutrient transport. Changing the field direction in a layer of tissue disrupts its homeostatic stability.

Edge modes in chiral topological systems can carry quantum information without backscattering. A topological lattice of superconducting resonators has been coupled to a qubit, providing a platform for chiral quantum electrodynamics and communication.

Cells can sense the mechanical properties of their environment. By adjusting the ruffling of their membranes, cells respond to different viscosities of their surrounding liquid medium.

Unconventional superconductivity is often associated with the presence of other kinds of electronic order. Observations of charge order in infinite-layer nickelate superconductors show that they fit this pattern.

Living cells change their behaviour in response to the viscosity of the medium surrounding them. An in vitro study shows that cells spread wider and move faster in a highly viscous medium, provided they have an actively ruffling lamellipodium.

Avalanches can occur when a porous snow layer lies beneath a dense cohesive snow slab. Field experiments and simulations now reveal different crack-propagation regimes in slab avalanches, similar to rupture propagation following an earthquake.

Across the world, decisions on investment and policy are made under the assumption of continuous economic expansion. Fundamental physical limits may soon put an end to this phase of development, as foreshadowed by the 1972 report The Limits to Growth.

Qudits are generalizations of qubits that have more than two states, which gives them a performance advantage in some quantum algorithms. The operations needed for a universal qudit processor have now been demonstrated using trapped ions.

Colloidal random lasers are hard to design and control. Combining optically controlled micro-heaters with thermophilic particles attracted by them leads to microlasers with programmable and reversible patterns.

Experiments inspired by the behaviour of active matter show that an external optical stimulus can spatially reconfigure colloidal random lasers and continuously tune their lasing threshold.