The electronic ground state of a correlated oxide interface is reversibly switched by light. Stemming from interfacial reconstructions, electrostatic confinement and photodoping, this effect opens a path towards engineering the optical response of oxides.

Multiple freezing–melting pathways of ice VI are found at room temperature, occurring via the ice XXI and ice VII phases. Supercompressed water structurally evolves from high-density water to very-high-density water.

Lantern-shaped ribbon cluster meta-units harness stored elastic energy to achieve over 13 distinct volumetric snapping morphologies, with potential applications in soft robotics, deployable devices and mechanical logic.

This Review discusses recent advances in afterglow materials for biomedical applications, the distinct imaging modalities that these agents enable and strategies to optimize their properties for improved disease diagnosis and therapies.

Viscoplastic surface effects in polymeric elastomers drive the development of sealing platforms with high hermeticity and large stretchability to safeguard stretchable electronics from degradation.

Garnet-type LLZO electrolytes are considered among the most promising solid-state electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries; however, numerous challenges need to be addressed before they are integrated into a cell. By precipitating amorphous zirconium oxide onto grain boundaries, increased ionic conductivity is observed and dendrite growth is suppressed.

A synthesis method mediated by laser-induced plasmon is developed to prepare subnanoscale high-entropy alloys, and a few such alloys display high stability for water splitting in proton exchange membrane electrolysers, operating at 2 A cm⁻² for over 1,200 h.

An Fe^III/V redox mechanism in Li₄FeSbO₆ on delithiation without Fe^IV or oxygen formation with resistance to aging, high operating potential and low voltage hysteresis is demonstrated, with implications for Fe-based high-voltage applications.

Time-resolved surface X-ray scattering is used to probe how light manipulates orbital order at the surface of a manganite. Femtosecond light is found to generate incoherent atomic disorder on an ultrafast timescale, consistent with the localization of polarons.

Spontaneous scrolling in two-dimensional polar van der Waals materials, driven by intrinsic out-of-plane electric polarization, enables the scalable production of nanoscrolls and their heterostructures.

The emergence of lipid nanoparticles as nucleic acid delivery vehicles has revolutionized medicine, with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipids playing a crucial role in particle formation and in vivo fate. However, PEG has been linked to immune responses that can provoke side effects and may prevent repeat dosing, and so PEG alternatives are now being developed. Here we argue that, rather than concentrating on PEG replacement, the field should prioritize designing around pre-existing immune memory.

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

Pioneer of high-pressure physics and superconductivity.

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.