Quantum optics Research update Liquid crystals generate entangled photon pairs Technique gives greater control and flexibility over entanglement Read article: Liquid crystals generate entangled photon pairs
Earth sciences Research update Hawaiian volcano erupted ‘like a stomp rocket’ Events at Kilauea in 2018 may have been triggered by a previously undescribed mechanism Read article: Hawaiian volcano erupted ‘like a stomp rocket’
Particle and nuclear Research update Speed of sound in quark–gluon plasma is measured at CERN Collisions at the CMS detector provide insights into lattice QCD and neutron stars Read article: Speed of sound in quark–gluon plasma is measured at CERN
Chemical processes Research update Scientists uncover hidden properties of rare-earth element promethium The first observation of a promethium complex in solution represents a significant advance in rare-earth research Read article: Scientists uncover hidden properties of rare-earth element promethium
Nuclear medicine Research update SNMMI ‘Image of the Year’ visualizes the brain as never before The NeuroEXPLORER brain PET scanner generates low noise and ultrahigh-resolution images of neuronal activity in the brain Read article: SNMMI ‘Image of the Year’ visualizes the brain as never before
Everyday science Research update Birds save up to 25% of their energy when they follow a leader Study on starlings is the first to measure birds’ energy use directly rather than inferring it from other measurements Read article: Birds save up to 25% of their energy when they follow a leader
Diagnostic imaging Research update Researchers build 0.05 T MRI scanner that produces diagnostic quality images A low-cost, ultralow-field whole-body MRI scanner that doesn’t require shielding aims to close the global gap in MRI availability Read article: Researchers build 0.05 T MRI scanner that produces diagnostic quality images
Materials Research update Extreme impacts make metals stronger when heated Counterintuitive finding could be useful for spacecraft shielding design and high-speed manufacturing processes Read article: Extreme impacts make metals stronger when heated
Nuclear medicine Research update Deep transfer learning detects six different cancers on PET/CT scans A generalizable AI tool performs fully automated tumour segmentation on whole-body PET/CT images Read article: Deep transfer learning detects six different cancers on PET/CT scans
Stars and solar physics Research update Sun’s magnetic field may have a surprisingly shallow origin New mathematical model reveals the workings of the stellar dynamo, with important implications for predicting solar storms Read article: Sun’s magnetic field may have a surprisingly shallow origin