Modelling and simulation Research update Energy efficiency guides lotus leaf growth Different shapes of lotus leaves grown on and above water are due to mechanical effects, not plant genetics Read article: Energy efficiency guides lotus leaf growth
Diagnostic imaging Research update Smartphone apps fall short on skin cancer diagnosis A systematic review of studies assessing skin cancer diagnosis apps reveals that the studies are of poor quality and the apps are unreliable Read article: Smartphone apps fall short on skin cancer diagnosis
Biophysics and bioengineering Research update Biodegradable guide can repair gaps in damaged nerves A biodegradable synthetic nerve guide embedded with growth-promoting proteins can regenerate long sections of damaged nerves Read article: Biodegradable guide can repair gaps in damaged nerves
Biomedical devices Research update Light activation offers non-invasive removal of medical implants Devices incorporating a light-sensitive hydrogel break down inside the body when exposed to light from an ingestible LED capsule Read article: Light activation offers non-invasive removal of medical implants
Nanomaterials Research update Secrets of nanospiral formation revealed by machine learning Insights into crystal growth could lead to new optical metamaterials Read article: Secrets of nanospiral formation revealed by machine learning
Biomedical devices Research update Bone marrow-on-a-chip models damage and disease Human bone marrow chip provides a reliable model to study bone marrow damage by radiation, drugs and disease Read article: Bone marrow-on-a-chip models damage and disease
Optics and photonics Research update Intense terahertz pulses generated with unprecedented efficiency Improvements to two-colour laser filament technique could help close terahertz gap Read article: Intense terahertz pulses generated with unprecedented efficiency
Instrumentation and measurement Research update First-look inside steel manufacture has potential to streamline the industry A novel magnetic induction tomography system monitors the internal temperature profile inside steel during continuous casting Read article: First-look inside steel manufacture has potential to streamline the industry
Biophysics and bioengineering Research update AI algorithm detects single cancer cells throughout an entire mouse body A novel deep-learning algorithm automatically detects tiny metastases and determines which ones are targeted by a potential drug Read article: AI algorithm detects single cancer cells throughout an entire mouse body
Optical components Research update Could legacy fibre networks host the global quantum Internet? Researchers demonstrate that entangled photons can be transported across long distances in conventional single-mode optical fibre Read article: Could legacy fibre networks host the global quantum Internet?
Optics & Photonics Briefing This issue explores lasers and detectors, solar power, medical imaging and high-resolution displays