Telescopes and space missions Research update Planck pins down the end of the cosmic ‘dark ages’ Star formation began 100 million years later than previously thought Read article: Planck pins down the end of the cosmic ‘dark ages’
Quantum mechanics Research update Photons simulate time travel in the lab Protocol could break quantum-encryption systems Read article: Photons simulate time travel in the lab
Surfaces and interfaces Research update New optical fibre shortens laser pulses the easy way Kagome structure and noble gas work together to create short, powerful infrared bursts Read article: New optical fibre shortens laser pulses the easy way
Telescopes and space missions Research update Galactic dust sounds death knell for BICEP2 gravitational wave claim Joint analysis of Planck, BICEP2 and Keck data finds no cosmological B-mode signal Read article: Galactic dust sounds death knell for BICEP2 gravitational wave claim
Soft matter and liquids Research update Ultrasound puts a new twist on light System sculpts and guides Bessel beams Read article: Ultrasound puts a new twist on light
Telescopes and space missions Research update Nailing the half-life of iron-60 New measurements tune up million-year "astronomical clock" Read article: Nailing the half-life of iron-60
Optical physics Research update How to twist light into a Möbius strip Topological curiosity created from laser beam Read article: How to twist light into a Möbius strip
Soft matter and liquids Research update Heart-muscle model could help pinpoint regions of atrial fibrillation Research could lead to better surgical treatments for preventing strokes Read article: Heart-muscle model could help pinpoint regions of atrial fibrillation
Telescopes and space missions Research update Rosetta data deluge reveals dynamic comet with sand dunes and jets Measurements show 67P differs from previously studied comets in same class Read article: Rosetta data deluge reveals dynamic comet with sand dunes and jets
Optical physics Research update Structured photons slow down in a vacuum Speed of light drops slightly when photons are shaped by a mask Read article: Structured photons slow down in a vacuum