Quantum networks require the distribution of entangled photons over long distances, a task primarily achieved using bulky crystal sources. Du et al. report a compact, CMOS-compatible silicon chip that generates bright, telecom-wavelength entangled photons and demonstrate their high-fidelity distribution through 93 and 155 km of deployed metropolitan fiber.

Low-symmetry structures offer powerful means to control light’s polarization, phase, and far-field radiation, yet mirror-symmetry breaking typically relies on asymmetric geometries. Ji et al. present a universal symmetry-breaking strategy via shear rather than asymmetric structures. This approach enables Janus bound states in the continuum, robust unidirectional guided resonances, and super-non-radiative polarization singularities within geometrically symmetric structures. This work redefines symmetry control in optics, unlocking opportunities for asymmetric emission and chiral photonics.

Chirality plays an important role in light-matter interactions; however, the chiroptical responses of natural structures and materials are typically very weak. Zou et al. demonstrate a geometric spin-orbit hybridization approach to create three-dimensional plasmonic nanostructures with tunable circular dichroism and enhanced optical chirality density, enabling potential applications in polarization detection, chiral light sources, and optical sensing and sorting.

Topological space-time crystals featuring intertwined spatiotemporal translation symmetries have emerged as new topological phases that go beyond the established Floquet-Bloch framework. Here, Tong et al. report an acoustic realization of monoatomic topological space-time crystals, achieved by combining passive acoustic cavity-tube structures with active circuit couplings. The experiments demonstrate pivotal oblique energy-momentum Brillouin zones and nontrivial π-gap edge states in space-time crystals, opening new avenues for further exploration of novel non-equilibrium topological phases of matter.

Transmitting entangled states over long distances is crucial for quantum networks. Du et al. demonstrate polarization entanglement distribution using a CMOS-compatible silicon chip. The device delivers entangled photon-pair brightness three times higher than in previous reports with high fidelity. After addressing phase drift and chromatic dispersion, entangled photon pairs were distributed over 93 and 155 km of deployed fiber. These results show that silicon chips can perform competitively compared to bulk crystal sources for quantum networks with integrated nanophotonic platforms.

Drops impacting solid surfaces typically exhibit either rebound suppression or rebound enhancement, two outcomes regarded as mutually exclusive. Tang et al. investigate liquid-liquid compound drops and uncover a tunable transition between these behaviors, governed by the volume fraction of dispersed droplets. In such drops, energy dissipation is significant when the dispersed droplets remain separated but is substantially reduced once they enter a jammed state. These findings offer valuable insights into drop impact dynamics and enable precise control of complex drops.

In cellular systems, nucleic acid templates catalyze the formation of protein and RNA molecules. Qureshi et al. analyze the behavior of catalytic molecular templating networks and bound the accuracy of such templating networks via functions of the maximal difference in free-energy changes between possible assembly pathways. Surprisingly, systems that operate at the bounds exist in a pseudo-equilibrium, balancing forward and backward transitions, unlike the behavior observed in biology.

State revivals are theoretically and experimentally studied in discrete-time quantum walks with a time-dependent coin. Steinfurth et al. identified a set of symmetry-driven principles underlying these revivals, leading to a modulation protocol that provides both precise control and adaptability, offering insights into complex systems and advancing quantum-inspired technologies.

Low-energy excitations are crucial for understanding exotic phases and transitions in quantum many-body systems. Lu et al. numerically reveal a microscopic mechanism for a transition from an isotropic fractional quantum anomalous Hall (FQAH) state to a translation-symmetry-breaking FQAH, driven by the magnetoroton mode softening at finite momentum. The process maintains the Hall conductivity, with a robust charge gap at the quantum critical point. This scenario could serve as a general scheme for various FQAH systems.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) typically display insulating behavior characterized by distinct energy bands, often modeled as composite bands from simple bands above and below the Fermi level. Cai et al. designed a disilabenzene-linked COF topological nodal-line semimetal, represented by a six-band model using 1,4,5,8,9,12-hexabromoazatriphenylene and silicon. This work showcases a strategy for constructing multiple organic topological semimetals through the interweaving simple bands.

Precise identification and control of structural phases in flat-band kagome materials are key to manipulating their emergent quantum states. Huang et al. employ Raman spectroscopy as a nanoscale probe to distinguish α- and β-phase Nb3Cl8. Crucially, exfoliation-induced strain in thin flakes suppresses both structural and magnetic transitions, stabilizing the high-temperature α-phase down to 2 K. This work establishes a framework for interpreting correlated phenomena in this kagome semiconductor and offers valuable insights into the design of future strain-engineered two-dimensional quantum devices.

Visual perception is a common factor affecting how organisms interact with one another in nature. Du et al. introduce a non-reciprocal XY lattice-gas model to explore how vision-cone interactions shape the collective behavior in selfish energy-driven systems. They show that active particles tend to aggregate into an aster cluster over a wide range of vision cones, and aster formation can be guided by the introduction of an attractive anchor, revealing the underlying mechanisms of certain “selfish herd” behaviors.

Orbitronics exploits the orbital motion of electrons and has recently emerged as an alternative to conventional electronics. Aguilar-Pujol et al. show that vanadium, a light 3d metal with weak spin-orbit coupling, can generate orbital currents. Measuring changes in resistance under a magnetic field provides evidence of this behavior and arises as a suitable method to characterize a broad class of materials with either strong or weak spin-orbit coupling.

Chirality is ubiquitously observed in nature. Inspired by the spin and orbital motion of light, Zou et al. introduce a geometric spin-orbit hybridization framework to design chiral nanostructures. This approach enables enhanced circular dichroism and optical chirality density, which are crucial for various applications. Numerical demonstrations are shown for a polarization-sensitive thermal detector and a nano-needle with a strong, broadband chiral response. This framework establishes a versatile platform for engineering chiral nanostructures for advanced chiral light-matter interactions.

Understanding the mechanical behaviors of hydrophilic polymers, such as amorphous cellulose, is crucial for foreseeing application scenarios and designing advanced materials. Liu et al. establish a time-temperature-moisture superposition principle to understand how temperature and water alter the mechanical response of amorphous cellulose at the molecular level, providing a predictive understanding of its mechanical properties and functions.

Understanding the structure-property relationship of self-assembled superstructures requires non-destructive 3D structural analysis, which can then facilitate the development of mesocrystals with collective and emergent properties. Hinsley et al. employ coherent X-ray diffractive imaging to resolve the positions and orientations of the constituent gold octahedral nanoparticles in multiple self-assembled mesocrystals as well as defects within the mesocrystal lattice structure.

The current fundamental understanding of dewetting is predominantly restricted to liquid films, and its role in mediating droplet dynamics remains unclear. In this perspective, Pengcheng Sun and Zuankai Wang provide a critical assessment and discuss the potential for future applications of the role of dewetting in mediating droplet dynamics, offering new insights into the long-standing problem of dewetting dynamics.

Fourier’s law governs heat flow at the macroscopic level but fails at the nanoscale, where thermal conductivity can depend on system size. Writing in Newton, Wang et al. bring this “anomalous” heat conduction to the macro world. Using active thermal metamaterials with tunable embedded sources, they demonstrate size-dependent conductivity, bridging the gap between two distinct physics domains.

Wireless power transfer faces efficiency and tuning challenges over distance, and higher-order systems often require multiple coils, increasing complexity and energy loss. Wang et al. demonstrate a synthetic-dimension-based meta-coil that realizes high-order anti-PT symmetry for wireless power transfer. Incorporating nonlinear saturation gain enables adaptive frequency locking and robust efficiency across varying distances without active tuning, offering a compact and efficient solution for next-generation wireless energy systems.

Most current storage uses ferromagnetic materials with aligned spins but face speed and scalability limitations due to magnetic stray fields. Antiferromagnets avoid this issue but are more challenging to control. Altermagnets, which combine spin-split bands with compensated magnetization—once thought to be unique to antiferromagnets—offer a promising alternative. Weber et al. theoretically explore ultrafast spin dynamics in a prototypical altermagnetic candidate material. They show that in altermagnets, optically excited spins can persist long enough for experimental detection, paving the way for potential ultrafast spintronic devices.

While a passive polymer cannot spontaneously fold without attraction, Caprini et al. show that a polymer made from chiral active monomers spontaneously self-wraps. When all monomers rotate with the same handedness, an effective attraction emerges between faraway monomers, allowing the polymer to remain self-wrapped.

Non-Hermitian topological sensors (NTOSs) offer ultrasensitive detection but face scalability limits. Rafi-Ul-Islam et al. reveal why signal amplification saturates in point-gap topology and derive critical size and energy. Line-gap topology avoids saturation, while unidirectional coupling enhances tunability. A topolectrical circuit design translates energy shifts to impedance peaks, enabling robust, low-cost sensing. These insights optimize NTOSs for photonics and quantum applications, advancing non-Hermitian physics.

This perspective highlights how atomic reconstruction in moiré superlattices of two-dimensional materials governs domain topology, polarization patterns, and electronic transport. By comparing rotation- and dilation-driven reconstructions, it shows how symmetry breaking and interlayer coupling produce distinct domain architectures and functional responses. This perspective also discusses how these processes enable functional applications such as ultra-low-power memory and neuromorphic computing, offering a framework for engineering reconfigurable quantum devices through moiré superlattice design.

The cobalt compound Na2BaCo(PO4)2 (NBCP) is the first to realize a spin-12 easy-axis triangular lattice antiferromagnet, hosting spin supersolidity and topological phase transitions. Using a newly developed high-sensitivity gradient force magnetometer, Zhang et al. mapped the magnetic phase diagram of NBCP at temperatures as low as 30 millikelvin. The results reveal BKT transitions and field-tunable quantum phase transitions, along with a giant magnetocaloric effect. These findings establish NBCP as an ideal platform for studying frustrated quantum magnetism.

The coherent transfer of quantum information between different points in space is challenging. Ymai and Wilsmann et al. show that a spinning tetrahedral arrangement of optical traps realizes a quantum turntable that can coherently transfer the quantum states of magnetic atoms, including entangled states, around the axis of rotation with high fidelity.