Nature Physics

Nature Physics, Published online: 01 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03222-6 Higher-order interactions in quantum harmonic oscillator systems can result in useful effects, but they are hard to engineer. An experiment on a single trapped ion now demonstrates how spin can mediate higher-order nonlinear bosonic interactions.

Nature Physics, Published online: 01 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03241-3 Symmetry rules usually prevent interactions between distinct vibrational modes. Now it is shown that charge order fluctuations can mix modes, enhancing the chiral lattice response in a ferroaxial electronic crystal.

Nature Physics, Published online: 01 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03262-y Coupling semiconductor qubit devices to microwave resonators provides a way to transfer quantum information over long distances. A flopping-mode qubit that combines strong coupling to photons with good coherence properties has now been demonstrated.

Nature Physics, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03242-2 The mechanical stability of proteins affects their import into the nucleus. Now it is shown that protein transport in and out of the nucleus depends on the local mechanostability of the protein cargo.

Nature Physics, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03263-x During development, cells acquire their identity—a process that depends on epigenetic modifications such as methylation. Now, a statistical physics analysis of methylation helps explain embryonic symmetry breaking.

Nature Physics, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03275-7 Tuning symmetry breaking in magnetic transitions via twist-angle engineering is challenging, as twisted two-dimensional magnets often inherit the magnetic ground states of their constituent parts. Now this tunability is achieved in a double-bilayer moiré magnet.

Nature Physics, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03259-7 Exceptional points and their related phenomena are limited to a narrow bandwidth and require precise control to realize. Now a high-dimensional generalization of exceptional points is shown to enable broadband non-Hermitian dynamics.

Nature Physics, Published online: 23 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03272-w Magnetic fields usually weaken superconductivity. By contrast, a material platform is demonstrated where applying a moderate field induces superconductivity.

Nature Physics, Published online: 23 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03266-8 The link between the strange metal with its linear-in-temperature resistivity and superconductivity is ambiguous. Now, a channel in the normal state whose scattering rate is linear in temperature is shown to drive superconductivity in FeTe1−xSex.

Nature Physics, Published online: 21 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03236-0 The creation of stable and isolated magnetic hopfions—three-dimensional topological solitons—has remained experimentally challenging. Now the laser-induced nucleation of hopfions has been achieved in a chiral magnet.

Nature Physics, Published online: 21 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03254-y Entanglement between particles offers insights into quantum behaviour, but methods for studying it in free-electron systems are lacking. Now a two-electron quantum walk is used to probe decoherence of free electrons inside an electron microscope.

Nature Physics, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03268-6 Optical forces and torques on nanoparticles are difficult to measure due to the diffraction limit of light. Now, transverse optical torque is observed through the optical trapping and spatial tracking of a designed microscale structure.

Nature Physics, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03231-5 Charge-transfer excitations, which define the optical bandgap in many insulators, also contribute to magnetic exchange in antiferromagnets. Femtosecond optical pumping of these transitions in canted antiferromagnet DyFeO3 reshapes the spin-wave spectrum — the set of collective spin excitations that define the dynamics…

Nature Physics, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03271-x In addition to strongly protected topological phases that rely on exact symmetries, theory predicts that disorder can stabilize weakly protected phases in mixed quantum states, and an example of the latter is now observed in a Rydberg atom array.

Nature Physics, Published online: 17 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03260-0 Identifying and classifying chiral phonons has been challenging, limiting their use in quantum and thermal technologies. Now, a symmetry-based framework and database describe phonon chirality across space groups and reveal promising material candidates.

Nature Physics, Published online: 17 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03261-z Reducing dissipation when generating spin currents remains a central challenge in spintronics. Now, an artificial ferrimagnet is shown to produce spin current output and simultaneously lower magnetic damping.

Nature Physics, Published online: 16 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03278-4 The advent of the laser transformed spectroscopy into a tool for precision measurements across scales, from nuclei to stars. In this Editorial we reflect on its far-reaching influence.

Nature Physics, Published online: 16 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03240-4 International metrological decision-making processes are exceedingly complex. Shanay Rab and Richard Brown explain how it works.

Nature Physics, Published online: 16 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03270-y Frozen sound

Nature Physics, Published online: 16 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03250-2 Rigorously undisciplined