Soft matter and liquids Research update Nanowires are guided around chips DNA coating offers a route to self-assembled circuits Read article: Nanowires are guided around chips
Vacuum and cryogenics Opinion and reviews Reasons to be cheerful The economy may be in a nosedive but there is plenty to look forward to in science this year Read article: Reasons to be cheerful
Soft matter and liquids Research update Random motion of bacteria could drive micromotors Tiny organisms could spin a rotor, say physicists Read article: Random motion of bacteria could drive micromotors
Structure and dynamics Research update ‘Uncontrollable’ nuclei sharpen up MRI The solution to a theoretical puzzle could provide the basis for improved MRI techniques. Read article: ‘Uncontrollable’ nuclei sharpen up MRI
Stars and solar physics Research update Spinning drops could model black holes Water droplets take on strange shapes when levitated and spun Read article: Spinning drops could model black holes
Soft matter and liquids Research update Renewable energy source inspired by fish Device exploits vortices generated by slow-moving currents Read article: Renewable energy source inspired by fish
Structure and dynamics Research update European synchrotron secures €177m upgrade New beamlines will allow nanometre-scale experiments at Grenoble lab Read article: European synchrotron secures €177m upgrade
Structure and dynamics Feature Optical tweezers: where physics meets biology Joost van Mameren explains how quantitative force measurements by optical tweezers can unravel the mechanical properties of biological molecules Read article: Optical tweezers: where physics meets biology
Soft matter and liquids Research update Tunnelling electrons could drive nanomotors Tiny rotors are inspired by biological motors Read article: Tunnelling electrons could drive nanomotors
Transport properties Research update Electrons put a new spin on chirality Could radiation striking magnetic materials be responsible for the 'handedness' of biological molecules? Read article: Electrons put a new spin on chirality