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Graphite ‘hijacks’ the journey from molten carbon to diamond

Machine-learning-based molecular simulations reveal unexpected crystallization pathway

Series of diagrams showing different stages of graphite and diamond as they crystallize. A left to right arrow labelled "nucleation pathways" indicates the direction of progress of crystallization through the series. Graphite, shown in red, gradually forms stacks of disorderly rings. Diamond, shown in blue, gradually forms larger and larger regular crystals

Scientists discover that like-charged particles can sometimes attract

Findings contradict central electromagnetic principle that the force between like charges is always repulsive

Negatively charged particles in water attract to form hexagonal clusters

Quantum simulator visualizes large-scale entanglement in materials

Result draws on 50-year-old theorem from quantum field theory to make entanglement measurement more efficient

Artist's illustration showing a magnifying glass suspended over a grey surface of a material. Brightly coloured particles - red, blue, purple and orange, representing different temperatures - are popping out of the material and passing through the magnifying glass

Cubic ice observed in pure form for the first time

Unusual phase develops when water freezes on interfaces at low temperatures

Surprising heat transfer behaviour seen in new semiconductor under pressure

The anomalous behaviour of boron arsenide under pressure could change the way we think about heat transport under extreme conditions, like those found in the Earth’s interior

At extremely high pressure – hundreds of times higher than that found at the bottom of the ocean – boron arsenide’s thermal conductivity begins to decrease

‘Coherent optical engineering’ turns opaque material temporarily transparent

New approach could also be used to create artificial materials such as exotic quantum magnets

Photo of a laser illuminating a material inside a low-temperature chamber

Quantum material ‘learns’ like a living creature

Discovery of habituation and sensitization behaviours in a Mott insulator could inspire new algorithms for artificial intelligence

Top tips for super sandcastles: explore the weird world of sand

What do we really know about the science of sandcastles? Ian Randall grabs his bucket and spade to explore the weird world of sand science

Ice microfibres are super flexible and springy

Flexible ice microfibres could be used to create environmental sensors, as low-loss optical waveguides or to study ice physics

Fast electrons catch badly behaved quantum dots in the act

New technique allows scientists to pinpoint causes of low light emission in real time and could pave the way for more efficient devices

Image showing what happens to quantum dots exposed to low-frequency and high-frequency laser light

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Environment and energy | Conference Food Physics 2026 4—5 February 2026 | Leeds, UK
Condensed matter | Workshop From Adaptive to Active Wetting Dynamics 16—20 February 2026 | Dresden, Germany
Condensed matter | Meeting JdA2026 – 55èmes Journées des Actinides 14—17 April 2026 | Cesky Krumlov, Czechia

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