Issues

States of matter intermediate between liquids and solids have recently become of intense interest because of their important applications and their value in studying fundamental problems in statistical physics.

Soap‐like molecules, with a hydrocarbon structure at one end and a polar structure at the other, form liquid crystals that change phase according to their concentration in water.

Giant molecules align spontaneously to form liquid crystals that have applications in areas ranging from electronic devices to ultra‐high‐strength materials.

Appearing under the polarizing microscope as ellipses, parabolas, hyperbolas, lines and points, colorful structural singularities are understood through topological and geometrical arguments.

Using free‐standing films of liquid crystals only a few molecules thick, we can examine the behavior of mateials in fewer than three dimensions.

An improved understanding of the microscopic properties of this fourth state of matter provides the framework for both present and future applications.