Read article: Semiconductor funnel could boost solar cells Transport properties Research update Semiconductor funnel could boost solar cells Band-gap engineering increases photon absorption
Read article: Light bends itself round corners Optical physics Research update Light bends itself round corners Beams travel along parabolic and elliptical paths
Read article: Ultralight fractal structures could bear heavy loads Optical physics Research update Ultralight fractal structures could bear heavy loads Structures could be easily fabricated using 3D printing techniques
Read article: Quantum-dot photodetector offers short cut for electrons Transport properties Research update Quantum-dot photodetector offers short cut for electrons New device dispenses with conventional thin-film architecture
Read article: Smart cloak deforms to keep objects invisible Optical physics Research update Smart cloak deforms to keep objects invisible Broadband device shields objects from microwaves
Read article: Single fibre sees where no endoscope has gone before Optical physics Research update Single fibre sees where no endoscope has gone before Instrument can make holographic measurements of tissue with micron resolution
Read article: Silvery fish fool predators with their skin Soft matter and liquids Research update Silvery fish fool predators with their skin Biological cloaking could be applied to optical devices
Read article: Chip puts a twist on light Optical physics Research update Chip puts a twist on light Optical vortices from tiny devices could boost quantum computers
Read article: Nanolayers make a coating of many colours Surfaces and interfaces Research update Nanolayers make a coating of many colours Semiconductor film changes hue with thickness
Read article: Gossamer ‘nanoweb’ blocks light Transport properties Research update Gossamer ‘nanoweb’ blocks light Counterintuitive result might lead to new optical devices
Physics World podcast Explore our two regular podcast series, Physics World Weekly and Physics World Stories