A time crystal is a form of matter that shows continuous, repeating patterns over time, much like how atoms in a normal ...

Molecular crystals have emerged as a captivating class of materials that blend the intrinsic order of crystalline solids with the dynamic responsiveness typically associated with soft matter. Their ...

Glass cells filled with liquid crystals respond to light to make the first time crystals visible to the naked eye, even if you’d still get a better view using magnification. Previous time crystals ...

Crystal growth and solidification dynamics constitute a critical domain within materials science, where the interplay between thermodynamic driving forces and kinetic constraints determines the ...

Researchers have developed a blueprint for weaving hopfions—complex, knot-like light structures—into repeating spacetime crystals. By exploiting two-color beams, they can generate ordered chains and ...

Katy has a BA in Humanities and Philosophy, with over 20 years of experience in online and print publishing. She was named the Association of British Science Writers' Editor of the Year in 2023. Over ...

Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder created the first time crystal visible to humans. Using liquid crystals that swirl endlessly under light, this breakthrough could transform ...

In a surprising twist, researchers have identified crystals that are symmetrical but nevertheless absorb light as if they were chiral (Science 2025, DOI: 10.1126/science.adr5478). The discovery ...

Optical microscope image of a representative crystal that possesses centrosymmetry, yet shows differential absorption of circularly polarized light. The crystal is made of lithium, cobalt, selenium ...