Featured
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Article |
Corner- and edge-mode enhancement of near-field radiative heat transfer
Near-field radiative heat transfer between two coplanar silicon carbide membranes in close proximity is enhanced by the electromagnetic corner and edge modes.
- Lei Tang
- , Lívia M. Corrêa
- & Chris Dames
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Article |
A global timekeeping problem postponed by global warming
Increased melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica, measured by satellite gravity, has decreased the angular velocity of Earth more rapidly than before and has already affected global timekeeping.
- Duncan Carr Agnew
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News |
China’s giant underground neutrino lab prepares to probe cosmic mysteries
Due to come online this year, the JUNO facility will help to determine which type of neutrino has the highest mass — one of the biggest mysteries in physics.
- Gemma Conroy
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Comment |
Big science in Latin America: accelerate particles and progress
An advanced light source for research would boost growth in the Greater Caribbean region — scientific, economic and societal.
- Victor M. Castaño
- , Pedro Fernández de Córdoba
- & Galileo Violini
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News & Views |
Light can restore a heart’s rhythm
Implantable electric pacemakers save millions of lives worldwide, but they aren’t perfect. A proof-of-concept study shows that using light to regulate a heartbeat might be a better option than existing strategies.
- Igor R. Efimov
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Article
| Open Access
Room-temperature quantum optomechanics using an ultralow noise cavity
A room-temperature demonstration of optomechanical squeezing of light and measurement of mechanical motion approaching the Heisenberg limit using a phononic-engineered membrane-in-the-middle cavity with ultralow noise.
- Guanhao Huang
- , Alberto Beccari
- & Tobias J. Kippenberg
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Research Briefing |
Solitary light pulses on a chip-sized laser open up analytical applications
Self-reinforcing light pulses known as solitons are fundamental structures in wave dynamics. Previously, solitons could be produced only by bench-top lasers, but they can now also be generated using chip-sized mid-infrared lasers. This innovation enables the development of portable, efficient tools for use in spectroscopy, environmental sensing and medical diagnostics.
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Research Highlight |
Why coffee particles clump and make a mess during grinding
Scientists studying the electrical charge on coffee particles stumble on a secret to a better cup of joe.
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Research Briefing |
Divide and conquer: exploiting entropy to grow nanoscale barrier materials
The full promise of materials structured at the nanoscale can be realized only if they can be manufactured more efficiently and at the sizes required for device integration. An innovative method takes advantage of thermodynamic and kinetic effects to control the growth of stacked 2D nanosheets that can be used for practical applications from the nanoscale to the macroscale.
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Research Briefing |
Laser-induced vibrations probe microscale metamaterials without contacting them
Advanced materials engineered at the microscale have the potential to achieve unparalleled mechanical performance under extreme conditions. A laser-based characterization method enables the fast measurement of extreme properties in these materials, by extracting them from the sample’s vibrational ‘fingerprint’, without touching or permanently deforming the structure.
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Research Highlight |
Physicists find a way to set a new marathon record
The right configuration of pacers could lead to the fastest marathon ever run.
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Article |
Solid-body trajectoids shaped to roll along desired pathways
An algorithm is developed to design a shape, a trajectoid, that can trace any given infinite periodic trajectory when rolling down a slope, finding unexpected implications for quantum and classical optics.
- Yaroslav I. Sobolev
- , Ruoyu Dong
- & Bartosz A. Grzybowski
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Research Highlight |
Ben Franklin: founding father of anti-counterfeiting techniques
The eighteenth-century American patriot developed a host of measures to foil criminals trying to pass fake paper notes.
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Comment |
How to introduce quantum computers without slowing economic growth
To smooth the path of the quantum revolution, researchers and governments must predict and prepare for the traps ahead.
- Chander Velu
- & Fathiro H. R. Putra
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Research Highlight |
Better gummy sweets are within reach, thanks to physics
Scientists have worked out the precise combination of ingredients needed to ensure that gummies keep their chew.
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Spotlight |
Quantum computers: what are they good for?
For now, absolutely nothing. But researchers and firms are optimistic about the applications.
- Michael Brooks
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Research Highlight |
Why icicles have ribs
Chemicals in water that freezes into an icicle are crucial for that ridged profile.
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Obituary |
Alexander Müller (1927–2023)
Physicist and co-discoverer of high-temperature superconductivity.
- Joseph D. Martin
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News & Views |
Vertical architecture improves performance of transistor family
Organic electrochemical transistors could be better than conventional inorganic devices for certain uses, but have been held back by performance issues. The solution could be to build up these organic transistors like a sandwich.
- Camille Cunin
- & Aristide Gumyusenge
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Nature Podcast |
Laser 'lightning rod' diverts strikes high in the Alps
After decades of research, experiment shows potential for using lasers to protect large infrastructure.
- Benjamin Thompson
- & Shamini Bundell
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News |
This rapid-fire laser diverts lightning strikes
Technology that produces 1,000 pulses of light per second makes bolts change course high in the Alps.
- Elizabeth Gibney
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Article |
Anomalous thermal transport under high pressure in boron arsenide
Competition between three- and four-phonon scattering processes is shown to be the source of a unique anomalous thermal conductivity in boron arsenide at high pressures.
- Suixuan Li
- , Zihao Qin
- & Yongjie Hu
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Research Highlight |
Spectrometer fits on a fingertip ― but is big on precision
An instrument found on workbenches around the world has been scaled down enough to be used in a smartphone.
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Article
| Open Access
Accommodating unobservability to control flight attitude with optic flow
Attitude can be extracted from optic flow when combined with a motion model that relates attitude to acceleration direction, which leads to stable flight attitude control with slight oscillations due to unobservable conditions.
- Guido C. H. E. de Croon
- , Julien J. G. Dupeyroux
- & Franck Ruffier
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Research Highlight |
Cyclones’ inner lives revealed by invisible particles
Measurements of elementary particles called muons provide insight into the structure of swirling storms.
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Research Briefing |
An optical innovation for metrology at the quantum limit of precision
Frequency-comb lasers are measuring sticks of the optical world and are used in metrology and sensing applications owing to their rigid, comb-like light spectra and metronomic pulsed output. A frequency comb with time-programmable pulses breaks this rigid mould and, in a demonstration of its utility, measures distances at the quantum limit of precision.
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Research Highlight |
What gives jazz its swing? A delay makes the difference
Doctored versions of jazz tracks help scientists to pinpoint the source of the elusive quality called swing.
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Article |
The time-programmable frequency comb and its use in quantum-limited ranging
A self-referenced optical frequency comb with digital electronics is used for real-time attosecond control of the comb’s pulse train, and can be used in quantum-limited sensing.
- Emily D. Caldwell
- , Laura C. Sinclair
- & Jean-Daniel Deschenes
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Article |
A dynamically reprogrammable surface with self-evolving shape morphing
The work presents a reprogrammable metasurface, constructed from a matrix of filamentary metal traces, that can precisely and rapidly morph into a wide range of target shapes and dynamic shape processes.
- Yun Bai
- , Heling Wang
- & Xiaoyue Ni
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Article
| Open Access
Experimental demonstration of optical stochastic cooling
Stochastic cooling at optical frequencies is demonstrated in an experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory’s Integrable Optics Test Accelerator, substantially increasing the bandwidth of stochastic cooling compared with conventional systems.
- J. Jarvis
- , V. Lebedev
- & A. Valishev
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Research Briefing |
Bright blue nanoscale LEDs for next-generation displays
Microscopic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have applications ranging from augmented-reality displays to large-screen products, but their brightness typically decreases as their size is reduced. A solution to this problem has now been found and used to manufacture bright blue nanoscale LEDs.
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Article |
Non-Hermitian morphing of topological modes
It is experimentally demonstrated that the non-Hermitian skin effect can convert localized topological modes into extended modes of unconventional shapes while preserving the topological characteristics, which presents opportunities for topological manipulations of waves and light.
- Wei Wang
- , Xulong Wang
- & Guancong Ma
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Article |
Exceptional-point-based accelerometers with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio
Experiments and theory show that transmission peak degeneracies near exceptional points in an electromechanical accelerometer can be used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor.
- Rodion Kononchuk
- , Jizhe Cai
- & Tsampikos Kottos
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Research Briefing |
Quantum memories entangled over tens of kilometres of optical fibre
Quantum entanglement has been generated between two single-atom quantum memories over a 33-kilometre optical-fibre link. The wavelength of the photons emitted by these quantum memories was converted to one that works in telecommunications without altering the polarization of the photons, paving the way for the long-distance links of future quantum networks.
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News & Views |
Crystalline order offers access to high speeds for organic transistors
A transistor fabricated from the crystalline phase of an organic semiconductor material could provide a path to improved switching speeds — rivalling those of devices built from inorganic materials such as silicon.
- Julie Euvrard
- & Barry P. Rand
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Article |
Intermittent lab earthquakes in dynamically weakening fault gouge
Lab experiments show that spontaneously propagating ruptures navigate fault regions through intermittent slip with dramatic friction evolution, providing support that weakening mechanisms may allow ruptures to break through stable faults.
- V. Rubino
- , N. Lapusta
- & A. J. Rosakis
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Article |
Cilia metasurfaces for electronically programmable microfluidic manipulation
Artificial cilia composed of surface electrochemical actuators are combined in arrays to create arbitrary flow patterns in liquids, and, when integrated with light-powered CMOS circuits, enable programmable wireless operation at low voltage.
- Wei Wang
- , Qingkun Liu
- & Itai Cohen
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Nature Video |
Jumping robot leaps to record heights
Research into biological and mechanical jumpers yields record breaking design
- Dan Fox
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News & Views |
A detector that can learn the fingerprint of light
The polarization, wavelength and power of a light wave can be simultaneously identified by a compact device made from twisted layers of carbon atoms — with a little help from an artificial neural network.
- Justin C. W. Song
- & Yidong Chong
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News & Views |
A smart sensor that can be woven into everyday life
A hybrid design combines sensitivity and flexibility to create an acoustic single-fibre sensor that can be knitted into fabric. The future of tracking our health and fitness looks wearable — and perhaps even implantable.
- Wenhui Song
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Article |
Single-year radiocarbon dating anchors Viking Age trade cycles in time
Disturbances in the radiocarbon record anchor a precisely dated archaeological stratigraphy of a medieval trading emporium in Denmark in time, revealing that the Viking expansion was associated with competition for trade routes rather than with raids.
- Bente Philippsen
- , Claus Feveile
- & Søren M. Sindbæk
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Research Highlight |
Neutron beam sheds light on medieval faith and superstition
Hidden inside a leaden amulet, researchers find words of magic and Christian creed side by side.
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News |
COVID’s career impact and embryo secrets — the week in infographics
Nature highlights three key infographics from the week in science and research.
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News Feature |
The start-ups chasing clean, carbon-free fusion energy
An emerging industry of nuclear-fusion firms promises to have commercial reactors ready in the next decade.
- Philip Ball
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Article
| Open Access
In-orbit demonstration of an iodine electric propulsion system
The successful in-orbit operation of an electric space propulsion system based on iodine, rather than the more expensive and difficult-to-store xenon, is demonstrated.
- Dmytro Rafalskyi
- , Javier Martínez Martínez
- & Ane Aanesland
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News & Views |
Non-magnetic objects induced to move by electromagnets
A set of electromagnets has been used to move metal objects without touching them, even though the objects are not magnetic. This method could potentially be used like a ‘tractor beam’ to move hazardous objects in space.
- Eric Diller
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Article |
Dexterous magnetic manipulation of conductive non-magnetic objects
Time-varying magnetic fields can be used to manipulate the position and orientation of conductive non-magnetic objects.
- Lan N. Pham
- , Griffin F. Tabor
- & Jake J. Abbott
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Nature Podcast |
Omnimagnets move non-magnetic objects every which way
An ancient solar storm helps pinpoint when Vikings lived in the Americas, and using magnets to deftly move non-magnetic metals.
- Benjamin Thompson
- & Nick Petrić Howe
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Article |
Non-Hermitian topological whispering gallery
An acoustic topological gallery insulator constructed from sonic crystals made of thermoplastic rods decorated with carbon nanotube films enables the out-coupling of amplified and focused sound at audible frequencies.
- Bolun Hu
- , Zhiwang Zhang
- & Johan Christensen
Atomic clock keeps ultra-precise time aboard a rocking naval ship