In our latest issue, we have a special collection of Reviews covering recent progress in the generation and study of cold and ultracold molecules for applications in quantum simulation, metrology and chemistry. (1/n).

The cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix are linked by molecular clutches that enable cells to sense their environment. Now it is shown that the elastic properties of the clutches underpin stiffness sensing.

Large quantum systems with high entanglement are difficult to simulate with classical methods, but now it is shown that entanglement may be beneficial for quantum simulations.

Theory predicts that phonons—quanta of lattice vibrations—can carry finite angular momentum and thus influence physical properties of materials. Now phonons with angular momentum have been seen in tellurium with a chiral crystal structure.

Experimental systems in which non-trivial topology is driven by spontaneous symmetry breaking are rare. Now, topological gaps resulting from two excitonic condensates have been demonstrated in a three-dimensional material.

Diagrammatic Monte Carlo calculations accurately describe polarons in different theoretical models. Now, integrating this with accurate first-principles calculations can describe the ground-state and dynamic properties of polarons in real materials.

Quantum optical skyrmions are promising for quantum photonic applications but have not been experimentally realized. Now nanophotonic quantum skyrmions are generated using a semiconductor quantum dot–Gaussian microcavity quantum electrodynamics system.

July issue out!. Floquet bands in graphene, laser-produced muons, physics tourism and much more. Check it out at

Using Floquet engineering, an ensemble of ytterbium-171 ions in an yttrium orthovanadate host crystal provides a platform for studying the dynamics of different quantum many-body models — including the realization of a time-crystalline phase.

An interferometer design allows systematic investigation of the anyonic statistics of bulk fractional quantum Hall states.

The photoinduced hidden metallic state in 1T-TaS₂ has so far been stabilized only at cryogenic temperatures. Now it is shown that accessing an additional mixed-phase long-lived metastable state can stabilize the hidden phase at higher temperatures.

It is unclear how cell compartmentalization emerged in prebiotic conditions. Now it is shown that a temperature gradient in a confined space can bring the core components of a cell together.

When a charge current, a temperature gradient and a magnetic field are applied orthogonally to each other, a conductor is expected to heat or cool. This so-called transverse Thomson effect has now been observed for a bismuth–antimony alloy.

Graphene multilayers can host heavy electrons in flat bands alongside light electrons in Dirac cones. Local probes now reveal that a finite Dirac electron population persists at the Fermi level while correlated states form in the flat bands.

Tissues are usually modelled as viscoelastic materials. Now it is shown that intercellular fluid flow, rather than viscoelastic behaviour, dominates the immediate mechanical response of tissues.

Quantum spin-ice phases are predicted to have emergent gauge fields and fractionalization. Neutron scattering and thermodynamic measurements of the quantum spin-ice candidate Ce₂Zr₂O₇ show features consistent with these predictions.

Self-organized criticality can occur in cellular systems, but its origins remain unclear. Now it is shown that cytoskeletal criticality is influenced by the F-actin architecture and myosin active stress.

Magnetostructural changes are usually small and driven by spin–orbit coupling. Now, electron–lattice coupling enhanced by exchange interactions is shown to produce giant magnetostriction in a correlated ferromagnet.

Digital quantum simulations of fermionic models have so far been based on the Jordan–Wigner encoding, which is computationally expensive. An alternative and more efficient encoding scheme is now demonstrated in a trapped-ion quantum computer.

Traditionally, density functional theory could not describe quasicrystals as they lack translational symmetry. An ab initio approach now establishes that the quasicrystalline structures of ScZn₇.₃₃ and YbCd₅.₇ are true ground states.

Trapped ions are promising for electrometry but limited by weak intrinsic spin coupling to electric fields. Now it is shown that using a magnetic field gradient enhances sensitivity and enables precise measurements across subhertz to kilohertz frequencies.