Topology matters

摘要

The effects of topology have been investigated in systems as diverse as molecules and the cosmos, but rarely at the micrometre scale. In this issue, Senyuk etal. explore how topology affects the alignment of micro-scale particles suspended in a 'nematic' host matrix - a liquid crystal in which the molecules are aligned but do not form well-defined planes (B. Senyuk etal. Nature 493, 200-205; 2013).