Editorials

The ability to make porous extended structures in a predictable manner is now a mature and useful concept for materials scientists to solve real-world problems.

Quantum technologies are moving towards practical solutions in computing, sensing and secure communications, with photonics driving scalability and connectivity.

Concerns associated with the immunogenicity of mRNA lipid nanoparticles containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) are inspiring the development of PEG alternatives.

Our knowledge of deformation behaviour in functional materials is pushing the frontiers of mechanics, informing design strategies and enabling scalable manufacturing.

In this issue we present three papers on the topological properties or structure of ferroelectrics, which are interlinked.

Seven years on from updates to our data sharing policies, we reflect on data-deposition-related changes to our published papers and continue to strongly encourage authors to make source data openly available.

The Hall effect has been a powerful probe of the physics of materials for more than a century.

Budget cuts and shifting funding priorities will reduce opportunities for early-career researchers in the USA.

One-dimensional magnetism gets the attention it deserves.

Metamaterials are advancing with intricate structure designs and material combinations, with the support of computational methods and scalable fabrication techniques. These advancements enable the creation of multifunctional and smart devices, with growing presence in commercial devices.

Non-fullerene acceptors help organic solar cells achieve high performance, transforming organic photovoltaics into a useful technology.

The sorption and storage properties of metal–organic frameworks are extensively reported but their commercialization has been slow. Collaborative efforts from scientists, engineers and investors are needed to accelerate the transition from laboratory to the marketplace.

Improved thermoelectric refrigeration at cryogenic temperatures may lead to enhanced technologies and better research capabilities.

Mass air travel connects countries and allows building of research or academic communities, but more sustainable fuels need to be produced to address carbon emissions.

Studies are shedding light on the mechanical properties of cellular tissues and their implications for biological processes.

By precisely controlling the phases in materials with reduced dimensionality, the material properties can be tailored, leading to enhanced performance and multifunctionality.

Inspired by non-trivial band topology and the variety of correlated electronic phases in moiré superlattices formed in van der Waals materials, scientists are finding alternative material platforms to exploit the rich phenomena arising from the twist-angle degree of freedom.

The recent landslide election of Labour promises a reset in how UK research is perceived and funded by government.

The generation of attosecond pulses has opened the door to probing electron dynamics at sub-atomic scales. Beyond atomic physics, this field is envisioned to also have a decisive impact on condensed-matter physics, chemistry and biology.

Stacked atomic layers that interact via van der Waals forces offer a confined interlayer space for stabilizing unconventional materials or physical states, enabling a versatile platform for engineering structural configurations and properties at the atomic level.