Read article: Exoplanets could be used as dark-matter detectors Dark matter and energy Research update Exoplanets could be used as dark-matter detectors Elusive substance is expected to warm up exoplanets
Read article: Promising quantum spin liquid candidate may fall short Magnetism and spin Research update Promising quantum spin liquid candidate may fall short New electron spin resonance spectroscopy experiments find a spin gap in this exotic material, casting doubt on its status
Read article: Personalized brain temperature maps created using MRI and biophysical models Diagnostic imaging Research update Personalized brain temperature maps created using MRI and biophysical models Non-invasive imaging of brain temperature could help doctors monitor patient recovery and treatment after brain injury
Read article: Polymer-based insulator could help maintain Moore’s law Polymers Research update Polymer-based insulator could help maintain Moore’s law Material with good heat conductivity and an ultralow dielectric constant might keep tiny computer chips cool
Read article: ‘Flat-pack pasta’ morphs into 3D shapes when cooked Soft matter and liquids Research update ‘Flat-pack pasta’ morphs into 3D shapes when cooked Tiny grooves cause flat pasta to curl up into tubes and spirals
Read article: Recycled plastic bags make sustainable fabrics Environment and energy Research update Recycled plastic bags make sustainable fabrics A new material made from polyethylene yarn could be an eco-friendly alternative to conventional textiles
Read article: Hydrogel reprogrammes tumour cells back into cancer stem cells Biophysics and bioengineering Research update Hydrogel reprogrammes tumour cells back into cancer stem cells A hydrogel that rapidly turns cancer cells back into cancer stem cells could help researchers develop personalized therapies
Read article: Atomic-scale ion transistor could lead to better brain–computer interfaces Biophysics and bioengineering Research update Atomic-scale ion transistor could lead to better brain–computer interfaces Ultrafast device opens and closes channels for selected ions
Read article: Superconductivity enters a new dimension Superconductivity Research update Superconductivity enters a new dimension Researchers observe two-dimensional "puddles" emerging in a three-dimensional superconductor
Read article: Indestructible light waves travel through opaque material as if it isn’t there Optical physics Research update Indestructible light waves travel through opaque material as if it isn’t there Scattering-invariant modes of light are transmitted through a disordered medium in the same way as through homogeneous space
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