Nature Physics, Published online: 13 May 2024; doi:10.1038/s41567-024-02492-2The properties of quantum matter arise from the combined effects of dimensionality, interactions and quantum statistics. An experiment now studies what happens to ultracold bosons when the dimensionality of the system changes continuously between one and two dimensions.

Nature Physics, Published online: 13 May 2024; doi:10.1038/s41567-024-02509-wSpiral waves of cell density can form and propagate through bacterial biofilms. These waves are formed by a self-organization process that coordinates pulling forces between neighbouring cells.

Nature Physics, Published online: 13 May 2024; doi:10.1038/s41567-024-02460-wCells can form a rotating doublet. This rotation is driven by the symmetry breaking of myosin polarization in the cortices of the two cells.

Nature Physics, Published online: 13 May 2024; doi:10.1038/s41567-024-02508-xThe determination of the order parameter symmetry is a critical issue in the study of unconventional superconductors. Ultrasound measurements on UTe2, a candidate spin-triplet superconductor, now provide evidence for the single-component nature of its order parameter.

Nature Physics, Published online: 13 May 2024; doi:10.1038/s41567-024-02505-0Laser-driven proton acceleration experiments achieve energies of up to 150 MeV with particle yields that are relevant for applications such as radiobiology.

Nature Physics, Published online: 13 May 2024; doi:10.1038/s41567-024-02438-8Protein transport across the nuclear membrane is regulated by the nuclear pore complex. Experiments now show that the rates of nuclear transport rely on the presence of locally mechanically soft regions of the transported proteins.