As we step into a new season, we’re back with another collection of highlights from the Mathematics, Physical and Applied Sciences Communities. The past quarter has seen a wealth of fascinating research and personal reflections - from transporting quantum particles with precision and uncovering the Moon’s hidden crust to revealing how plants recover after drought and how Earth’s wandering poles shape our planet’s climate through deep time.
We also feature an inspiring interview with Boltzmann Medalist Mehran Kardar, who reflects on his journey through the field of statistical physics and the evolving frontiers of complex systems research. Together, these stories showcase the creativity, curiosity, and collaboration that continue to drive the research community forward.
How to Carry a Quantum Drink Without Spilling It
@ARNAB CHAKRABARTI and his team explore a fascinating challenge in quantum control: how to transport quantum particles safely and swiftly, like carrying a brimming glass through a lively crowd without spilling a drop. Inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s moves in Modern Times, they found that accelerating the trap within the system’s “memory time” helps prevent energy loss and keeps the transport highly precise.
Published in Nature Communications, this work introduces a fresh alternative to the traditional shortcuts to adiabaticity , offering a practical and versatile method for advancing fast quantum computing and atom manipulation. Explore more in his Behind the Paper post.
When Plants Recover, Their Defenses Rise
What happens when plants finally get water after a drought? In this Behind the Paper post, @Natanella Illouz-Eliaz and @Joseph R. Ecker shared that recovery itself triggers a burst of immune activity. Within minutes of rehydration, plants activate defense genes in key cell types, preparing for pathogens that may return with the rain.
This discovery published in Nature Communications sheds light on recovery as a critical, active phase in plant life - not just survival, but preparation for renewed challenges. It opens new possibilities for breeding crops that can both endure drought and stand strong against disease. Read their full Behind the Paper post to learn more about this fascinating discovery.
Uncovering the Moon’s Hidden Crust
@Zongcheng Ling and his team share insights from Chang’e-6 mission, which returnedthe first lunar farside soil samples to Earth. Using laser confocal Raman spectroscopy, they identified mineral signatures that confirm the Mg-rich pyroxene annulus of the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin, offering the first direct evidence of the deep lunar crust’s composition.
Their findings, published in Communications Earth & Environment, reveal a complex geological story shaped by impact-induced mixing and space weathering over billions of years. This work not only provides long-sought “ground truth” for decades of remote sensing data, but also marks a major step toward unraveling the Moon’s hidden history. Explore more in their Behind the Paper post.
Earth’s Wandering Poles and Shifting Climates
Did you know that the way we reconstruct ancient plate movements can dramatically change simulated climates through geological time? @Jonathon Leonard explored how using different reference frames in tectonic models - one based on the mantle and another on paleomagnetic data, can lead to climate differences of up to 20°C. Published in Communications Earth & Environment, their team developed fast, flexible workflows to explore deep-time climates, paving the way for new insights into ancient environments, ecosystems, and resource exploration. Discover more in this Behind the Paper post.
Life in Research: An Interview with Boltzmann Medalist Mehran Kardar
In this interview shared by @Alexandra Lagogianni, Mehran Kardar, co-recipient of the 2025 Boltzmann Medal and Associate Editor of Journal of Statistical Physics, shares his journey from Tehran to MIT and reflects on a career exploring complex systems. He discusses the impact of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation, his work in polymers, biophysics, active matter, and how collaborations with students and colleagues shaped his research.
Prof. Kardar also offers insights into the future of statistical physics, from quantum thermalization and biological evolution to collective phenomena in AI and complex networks. Read the full interview to learn more about his journey as a scientist and vision for the field.
Looking for more? Explore our monthly round-ups and quarterly highlights from across disciplines:
We’ve also just launched new Topic Pages and Collection Hubs, making it even easier to discover research and discussions around the themes that matter most to you.
We hope this roundup has sparked your curiosity and offered a glimpse into the exciting research unfolding across our Mathematics, Physical and Applied Sciences Communities. Whether you’re exploring new ideas or sharing your latest findings, the Research Communities are here to help your voice be heard. Join the discussion, showcase your work, and connect with researchers from around the world.