Astronomy and space Research update Milky Way magnetar could be the source of a fast radio burst Mysterious signals could emanate from highly magnetic neutron stars Read article: Milky Way magnetar could be the source of a fast radio burst
Soft matter and liquids Research update ‘Hyperbolic hedgehog’ steers active droplets in a liquid crystal New propulsion system could model human cell migration Read article: ‘Hyperbolic hedgehog’ steers active droplets in a liquid crystal
Biomedical devices Research update 3D printed fibres make efficient respiratory sensors Transparent, micron-sized conductive fibres can be integrated into wearable devices that measure the amount of moisture that leaks through a face mask Read article: 3D printed fibres make efficient respiratory sensors
Plasma physics Research update Microtube implosions could produce megatesla magnetic fields Proof-of-principle study finds that today's lasers are intense enough to generate super-strong fields from “pre-seeded” weaker ones Read article: Microtube implosions could produce megatesla magnetic fields
Radiotherapy Research update FLASH radiotherapy mechanism may arise from immune cell sparing The benefits of FLASH radiotherapy may be due in part to the sparing of circulating immune cells at high dose rates Read article: FLASH radiotherapy mechanism may arise from immune cell sparing
Accelerators and detectors Research update Gear-changing could allow colliders to smash particles with different velocities Newly tested scheme could be a boon to nuclear physics experiments Read article: Gear-changing could allow colliders to smash particles with different velocities
Radiotherapy Research update Can low-dose radiotherapy treat COVID-19-related pneumonia? Early data suggest that low-dose radiotherapy can improve outcomes for COVID-19 patients, but any irradiation regimen must be considered with care Read article: Can low-dose radiotherapy treat COVID-19-related pneumonia?
Planetary science Research update Planets and stars could form as ‘siblings’ at the same time Planet forming rings spotted around a class I protostar Read article: Planets and stars could form as ‘siblings’ at the same time
Nuclear medicine Research update Dynamic PET edges closer to clinical prime time Dynamic whole-body PET is evolving fast and showing considerable clinical promise Read article: Dynamic PET edges closer to clinical prime time
Nuclear physics Research update Physicists measure energy of lowest nuclear excited state High-precision magnetic microcalorimeter experiments could bring nuclear clocks a step closer Read article: Physicists measure energy of lowest nuclear excited state