Read article: Reptile skin inspires super-slippery steel surfaces Surfaces and interfaces Research update Reptile skin inspires super-slippery steel surfaces Copying patterns found on snakes and lizards could reduce friction in tiny machines
Read article: Graphene coating boosts battery performance Nanomaterials Research update Graphene coating boosts battery performance Carbon layers allows silicon nanoparticles to expand and contract without damage
Read article: Spectrometer made from quantum dots is compact and low cost Optical physics Research update Spectrometer made from quantum dots is compact and low cost Devices could someday be used in household appliances
Read article: Bringing the human eye into focus Optical physics Research update Bringing the human eye into focus New imaging technique resolves the rods and cones at the back of the eye
Read article: Quantum cryptography set for lift-off Quantum optics Research update Quantum cryptography set for lift-off Satellite transmits qubits to the Earth's surface
Read article: Could lasers guide and control the path of lightning? Ultrafast science Research update Could lasers guide and control the path of lightning? New method to steer electric discharges around an obstacle uses laser beams
Read article: Frequency combs smooth out optical-fibre signals Ultrafast science Research update Frequency combs smooth out optical-fibre signals Research could mean higher bandwidth for optical fibres, and so more data
Read article: Thin semiconductors go through the Mott transition Transport properties Research update Thin semiconductors go through the Mott transition Research could help build photonic devices from novel 2D transition metals
Read article: Kirigami patterns make composite materials more stretchy, while staying strong Surfaces and interfaces Research update Kirigami patterns make composite materials more stretchy, while staying strong Method could be used to make flexible electronics and optoelectronic devices
Read article: Does time dilation destroy quantum superposition? Structure and dynamics Research update Does time dilation destroy quantum superposition? Interplay between gravity and quantum mechanics should be observable on Earth