States of matter Research update Ice XXI appears in a diamond anvil cell Previously unknown ice phase exists at room temperature and pressures of 2 GPa Read article: Ice XXI appears in a diamond anvil cell
Atmosphere Research update Extra carbon in the atmosphere may disrupt radio communications Increasing CO2 levels are triggering changes in the ionosphere that will adversely affect signals, say scientists Read article: Extra carbon in the atmosphere may disrupt radio communications
Nanophotonics Research update Phase-changing material generates vivid tunable colours A multilayer stack containing a thin film of temperature-sensitive vanadium dioxide creates tunable structural colours on rigid and flexible surfaces Read article: Phase-changing material generates vivid tunable colours
Modelling and simulation Research update SPONSORED Staying the course with lockdowns could end future pandemics in months New calculation of viral spread suggests that rapid elimination of SARS-CoV-2-like viruses is scientifically feasible, though social challenges remain Read article: Staying the course with lockdowns could end future pandemics in months
Atomic and molecular Research update Looking for inconsistencies in the fine structure constant High-precision laser spectroscopy measurements on the thorium-229 nucleus could reveal new physics, say TU Wien physicists Read article: Looking for inconsistencies in the fine structure constant
Environment and energy Research update Heat engine captures energy as Earth cools at night System can generate electricity when solar cells cannot Read article: Heat engine captures energy as Earth cools at night
Soft matter and liquids Research update Microscale ‘wave-on-a-chip’ device sheds light on nonlinear hydrodynamics New device could help us better understand phenomena from ocean waves and hurricanes to weather and climate Read article: Microscale ‘wave-on-a-chip’ device sheds light on nonlinear hydrodynamics
Instrumentation and measurement Research update Electrical charge on objects in optical tweezers can be controlled precisely New technique could shed light on electrification of aerosols Read article: Electrical charge on objects in optical tweezers can be controlled precisely
Quantum computing Research update Can fast qubits also be robust? Spin-orbit interaction adjustment produces "best of both worlds" scenario Read article: Can fast qubits also be robust?
Cosmology Research update Did cannibal stars and boson stars populate the early universe? Objects formed by exotic particles could have created primordial black holes Read article: Did cannibal stars and boson stars populate the early universe?