27 December 2023 | Open Access Giant adiabatic temperature change and its direct measurement of a barocaloric effect in a charge-transfer solid Cyano-RbMnFeCo shows a large barocaloric effect with reversible adiabatic temperature changes of 74 K (340 MPa) and 85 K (560 MPa). Here, the authors observe temperature change of +44 K (440 MPa), stable after repeating over 100 times. Shin-ichi Ohkoshi, Kosuke Nakagawa & Ryu Hatano Article 22 December 2023 | Open Access Octopus-inspired deception and signaling systems from an exceptionally-stable acene variant The design of multifunctional platforms with tunable spectroscopic and fluorescent properties that span the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral regions remains challenging. Here, the authors report an actuator-type system that leverages a readily-prepared, easily-processable, and exceptionally-stable nonacene-like molecule to achieve multiple complementary dynamic operating modes. Preeta Pratakshya, Chengyi Xu & Alon A. Gorodetsky Article 22 December 2023 | Open Access Transition to the Haldane phase driven by electron-electron correlations At the microscopic level, the localized spins arise due to the electron-electron interactions. Here, the authors show how a topological phase of the Haldane spin chain emerges in a two-orbital Hubbard model with increasing interaction strength. A. Jażdżewska, M. Mierzejewski & J. Herbrych Article 22 December 2023 | Open Access The role of ion migration, octahedral tilt, and the A-site cation on the instability of Cs1-xFAxPbI3 Applications of perovskite solar cells have been hindered by ion migration and structural instability. Here, the authors use ultra-low dose transmission electron microscopy to reveal the process of ion migration and structural change at the atomic level in Cs1-xFAxPbI3. Weilun Li, Mengmeng Hao & Joanne Etheridge Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Atroposelective hydroarylation of biaryl phosphines directed by phosphorus centres Directing group strategies have been used extensively in C–H activation reactions but current methods rely heavily on coordination with nitrogen or oxygen atoms in molecules and have therefore been found to exhibit limited generality in asymmetric syntheses. Here, the authors report enantioselective C–H activation with unsaturated hydrocarbons directed by phosphorus centres to rapidly construct libraries of axially chiral phosphines through dynamic kinetic resolution. Zexian Li, Minyan Wang & Zhuangzhi Shi Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Selective amide bond formation in redox-active coacervate protocells Coacervate droplets are promising protocells that sequester nutrients, but how new peptides could be synthesized inside coacervates remains a mystery. Here, the authors develop redox-active coacervates that facilitate the formation of new peptide bonds. Jiahua Wang, Manzar Abbas & Evan Spruijt Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Physics-aware differentiable design of magnetically actuated kirigami for shape morphing A differentiable design framework that integrates both geometrical and magnetomechanical analyses to inversely program the shape morphing in magnetically actuated kirigami is proposed, achieving intricate shapes and multistate transitions. Liwei Wang, Yilong Chang & Wei Chen Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Stoichiometry validation of supramolecular complexes with a hydrocarbon cage host by van ’t Hoff analyses “van ’t Hoff, the first Nobel laureate, invented a double-arrow formalism to define equilibria in 1884. Here, the authors apply his accompanying method, the van ’t Hoff plot, to a modern problem to decide the stoichiometry of supramolecular complexes.” Toshiya M. Fukunaga, Yuzuka Onaka & Hiroyuki Isobe Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Magnetic order in 2D antiferromagnets revealed by spontaneous anisotropic magnetostriction Van der Waals antiferromagnets offer a unique platform for studying magnetism in reduced dimensions, however, the low dimensionality, combined with lack of net magnetization, renders investigation challenging with conventional experimental probes. Here, Houmes et al show how van der Waals antiferromagnets can be investigated via the resonances of a vibrating rectangular membranes of this material. Maurits J. A. Houmes, Gabriele Baglioni & Herre S. J. van der Zant Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access A broad-spectrum gas sensor based on correlated two-dimensional electron gas Gas sensors typically detect only few specific gases; the authors show a broad-spectrum sensor based on correlated 2-dimensional electron gas (C-2DEG), which detects various gases quantitatively and measures partial pressures, through a purely physical mechanism. Yuhao Hong, Long Wei & Zhaoliang Liao Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Solvent-pair surfactants enabled assembly of clusters and copolymers towards programmed mesoporous metal oxides A solvent-pair surfactants enabled assembly method is developed to achieve a general and programmable synthesis of mesoporous metal oxides via the association of POMs with block copolymers through indirect interaction. Wenhe Xie, Yuan Ren & Yonghui Deng Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Fast free energy estimates from λ-dynamics with bias-updated Gibbs sampling Calculations of relative binding free energy are crucial for lead optimization in structure-based drug design, but classical methods are computationally expensive. Here, the authors describe a more efficient method for calculating the free energy that is as accurate as thermodynamic integration. Michael T. Robo, Ryan L. Hayes & Jonah Z. Vilseck Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Revealing hidden patterns in deep neural network feature space continuum via manifold learning Existing feature visualisation methods are not well-suited for regression tasks. Here, authors introduce a method to learn the manifold topology related to deep neural network output and target labels and provide insightful visualisations of the high-dimensional features while preserving the local geometry. Md Tauhidul Islam, Zixia Zhou & Lei Xing Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Janus particles with tunable patch symmetry and their assembly into chiral colloidal clusters Janus particles commonly exhibit a high-symmetry patch, constraining the range of possible assemblies. Here, the authors devise a synthetic approach to fine-tune the patch symmetry in Janus particles and showcase the assembly of these particles into chiral colloidal clusters. Tianran Zhang, Dengping Lyu & Yufeng Wang Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Redox-enabled electronic interrogation and feedback control of hierarchical and networked biological systems With redox-linked synthetic biology and electrobiofabrication, electronic information can be transmitted in a bidirectional manner between biology and electronics. Here the authors design an electrogenetic platform that allows real time electronic control of biological functions from proteins and gene circuits to cell consortia. Sally Wang, Chen-Yu Chen & William E. Bentley Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access A multi-stable deployable quadrifilar helix antenna with radiation reconfigurability for disaster-prone areas Impromptu communications are indispensable for disaster-prone regions with damaged infrastructure. Here, the authors propose a mechanically actuated bi-stable reconfigurable quadrifilar helix antenna suitable for both terrestrial and satellite L-band communications. Rosette Maria Bichara, Joseph Costantine & Maria Sakovsky Article 21 December 2023 | Open Access Large exchange bias enhancement and control of ferromagnetic energy landscape by solid-state hydrogen gating “Exchange bias” occurs in heterostructures of antiferromagnets and ferromagnetic materials, which biases the magnetization of the ferromagnet so that it exhibits a preferred direction. This phenomenon has proven critical for the development of a variety of spintronic devices. Here, Hasan et al demonstrate reversible control of exchange bias via solid-state hydrogen gating. M. Usama Hasan, Alexander E. Kossak & Geoffrey S. D. Beach Comment 20 December 2023 | Open Access On the need for an anticolonial perspective in engineering education and practice We examine the call for decolonising academic disciplines, and the extent which this applies to engineering. We argue that anticolonial endeavours should systematically recognise colonial legacy in contemporary science and technology, and reframe technological innovation in light of neocolonial extraction and exploitation. Srinjoy Mitra, Suvobrata Sarkar & Agomoni Ganguli-Mitra Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access An updated nuclear-physics and multi-messenger astrophysics framework for binary neutron star mergers The Nuclear-physics and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics framework, NMMA, combines multiple information from neutron stars and neutron star mergers. Here, the authors show an update of the NMMA framework to constrain neutron star equation of state by simultaneously analyzing multi-messenger observations. Peter T. H. Pang, Tim Dietrich & Chris Van Den Broeck Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access 3D microprinting of inorganic porous materials by chemical linking-induced solidification of nanocrystals 3D microprinting is considered a next generation manufacturing process for microscale components. Here, authors develop a generalised microscale 3D printing method to produce purely inorganic nanocrystal-linked porous materials that exhibit excellent functionality and hierarchical porosity. Minju Song, Yoonkyum Kim & Jae Sung Son Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access Ground-state electron transfer in all-polymer donor:acceptor blends enables aqueous processing of water-insoluble conjugated polymers Chemical approaches to improve aqueous dispersions of conjugated polymers are limited by the feasibility of modifying the backbone or lead to poor performance. Here, Liu et al. show that ground-state electron transfer in donor:acceptor blends aids aqueous dispersion, for high conductivity and solubility. Tiefeng Liu, Johanna Heimonen & Simone Fabiano Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access Extendable piezo/ferroelectricity in nonstoichiometric 2D transition metal dichalcogenides Nonstoichiometric transition metal dichalcogenides break symmetry, enabling piezo/ferroelectric effects. Here, the authors propose an approach to integrate these properties with diverse 2D materials, advancing multifunctional materials and devices. Yi Hu, Lukas Rogée & Shu Ping Lau Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access Full hardware implementation of neuromorphic visual system based on multimodal optoelectronic resistive memory arrays for versatile image processing In-sensor and near-sensor computing are emerging as the next-generation computing paradigm, for high-density and low-power sensory processing. Here, the authors report a fully hardware-implemented artificial visual system for versatile image processing based on multimodal-multifunctional optoelectronic resistive memory devices with optical and electrical resistive switching modes. Guangdong Zhou, Jie Li & Shukai Duan Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access High quality factor metasurfaces for two-dimensional wavefront manipulation Wavefront manipulation with metasurfaces is typically limited to low quality factors. Here, the authors show how higher-order Mie modes can be leveraged to design high quality factor optical metasurfaces for wavefront manipulation in two dimensions. Claudio U. Hail, Morgan Foley & Harry A. Atwater Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access Probing optical anapoles with fast electron beams Optical anapoles in nanoresonators result in strong suppression of the electromagnetic radiation, which is challenging to detect in ideal settings. Here, the authors show that fast electrons are a powerful tool to circumvent this challenge due to their ability to access dark modes. Carlos Maciel-Escudero, Andrew B. Yankovich & Timur O. Shegai Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access Engineering a synthetic energy-efficient formaldehyde assimilation cycle in Escherichia coli One-carbon substrates are attractive feedstocks for circular bioeconomy. Here, the authors design an erythrulose monophosphate (EuMP) cycle for formaldehyde assimilation, demonstrate the activity of the core reactions in E. coli, and show its integration with pathway reactions existed in pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis. Tong Wu, Paul A. Gómez-Coronado & Hai He Article 20 December 2023 | Open Access Epidemic graph diagrams as analytics for epidemic control in the data-rich era Approaches for assessing epidemic risks meet challenges when dealing with high-resolution data available nowadays, that includes behaviors, disease progression, and interventions. The authors propose an analytical framework to compute the epidemic threshold for arbitrary models of diseases, interventions, and hosts contact patterns. Eugenio Valdano, Davide Colombi & Vittoria Colizza