It is known that placing asymmetric objects in a bacterial bath results in the net rotation of those objects. Now it is shown that the torque dipole of confined E.coli can rotate symmetric objects hydrodynamically.

Defects in quantum materials can reveal hidden electronic behaviour. Now a hidden chiral current state intertwined with a charge density wave has been observed in a kagome superconductor doped with magnetic impurities.

Operating devices close to a phase transition can improve performance due to the singular behaviour at critical points. An enhancement in sensitivity has now been achieved using the bistable transition point in a hybrid quantum system.

Simulating the Bose–Hubbard model with physical systems is an important fundamental task. Now it is shown that dipolar excitons emulate a version of this model in which bosons can hop beyond their nearest neighbours.

The mechanism of strange metallicity remains difficult to understand. Now it is shown that in a strongly correlated d-orbital kagome metal, compact orbitals created by destructive interference can produce the unusual electronic behaviour.

The linear dispersion and massless behaviour of excitons have been predicted for two-dimensional materials but have not been experimentally demonstrated. Now this behaviour is observed using momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy.

Fifty years ago, the theoretical concept behind free-electron lasers was proposed. Since then, these light sources, operating from millimetre to X-ray wavelengths, have been indispensable for many areas of science.

Early radiography methods, such as conventional X-ray scans, gave physicians only limited information about what happens inside the body. Rachel Toth tells us how this case was cracked with computed tomography.

The information contained in the nomination process for the Nobel Prize highlights the ever-changing meaning of scientific recognition.

Quantum technologies could be transformative for healthcare. Alex Jones, Ian Gilmore and Peter Knight discuss the role of metrology in the adoption of these technologies.