Liquid crystals (LCs) are ubiquitous in display technologies. The orientational ordering in the
nematic phase of LCs gives rise to structural anisotropy, the ability to form topological …

Active materials are characterized by continuous injection of energy at the microscopic level
and typically cannot be adequately described by equilibrium thermodynamics. Here we …

Microrotors are microscopic objects that convert energy stored in the environment into
spontaneous rotation, in the form of spinning along an axis, rolling on a surface, or orbiting …

Active particles that are self-propelled by converting energy into mechanical motion
represent an expanding research realm in physics and chemistry. For micrometer-sized …

The leaf vein network is a hierarchical vascular system that transports water and nutrients to
the leaf cells. The thick primary veins form a branched network, while the secondary veins …

Unlike in thermodynamic equilibrium where coexisting phases always have the same
temperature, here we show that systems comprising “active” self-propelled particles can self …

Chiral active matter comprises particles which can self-propel and self-rotate. Examples
range from sperm cells and bacteria near walls to autophoretic L-shaped colloids. In this …

Active matter comprises individually driven units that convert locally stored energy into
mechanical motion. Interactions between driven units lead to a variety of nonequilibrium …

Emergent behavior in collectives of “robotic” units with limited capabilities that is robust and
programmable is a promising route to perform tasks on the micro and nanoscale that are …

Large density fluctuations observed in active systems and hyperuniformity are two
seemingly incompatible phenomena. However, the formation of hyperuniform states has …