Read article: Liquid metal flows smoothly at room temperatures Thin films and coatings Research update Liquid metal flows smoothly at room temperatures Applied voltage and oxide "skin" overcome droplet-forming tendencies driven by high surface tension
Read article: Colour-changing probe maps stresses in soft materials Polymers Research update Colour-changing probe maps stresses in soft materials New device builds up a quantitative picture of internal forces in a structure
Read article: Active rotation plays a role in the jamming–unjamming transition in living cells Soft matter and liquids Research update Active rotation plays a role in the jamming–unjamming transition in living cells Unjamming resembles the change in mechanical properties of healthy versus cancerous tissue
Read article: Neutrons join the battle against COVID-19, firm aims for a million-qubit quantum computer, cyanobacteria power a solar cell Soft matter and liquids Podcasts Neutrons join the battle against COVID-19, firm aims for a million-qubit quantum computer, cyanobacteria power a solar cell A neutron scientist, quantum entrepreneur and student contributor join us this week
Read article: Fluids only get so runny as physicists put a universal lower limit on viscosity Soft matter and liquids Research update Fluids only get so runny as physicists put a universal lower limit on viscosity New calculation captures the quantum-mechanical nature of molecular interactions
Read article: Tears of wine created by gravity induced shock waves Soft matter and liquids Research update Tears of wine created by gravity induced shock waves US researchers uncork new insights into vintage theory
Read article: Spiral patterns in living cells could be used to create biological computers Biophysics Research update Spiral patterns in living cells could be used to create biological computers Vortices in starfish eggs resemble those found in quantum fluids
Read article: Ancient art of cheese tapping mimicked by digital signal processing Acoustics Research update Ancient art of cheese tapping mimicked by digital signal processing Non-destructive acoustic technique decides when cheese is ripe
Read article: Sonic shock waves could help desalinate water Soft matter and liquids Research update Sonic shock waves could help desalinate water New technique could be applied to water treatment, but not everyone is convinced
Read article: Active matter goes chaotic Materials Research update Active matter goes chaotic Topological defects in a nematic can act as rods that mix the fluid