Ulf Leonhardt is riding high these days, with a new award from the Royal Society of Great Britain to further develop his ideas on how to make things in plain sight disappear. Born in East Germany and now occupying the theoretical physics chair at Scotland’s University of St. Andrews, Leonhardt is among the leaders of the worldwide race to realize an old dream of science fiction: cloaking devices. They would steer light or other electromagnetic waves around them like water around a stone in a smooth stream, leaving nary a ripple of difference in the flow. Such things, letting light swish ... (p. 18)

Charles K. Kao wins for discoveries enabling fiber-optic communication, and Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith win for inventing the charge-coupled device (p. 14)

An accelerator-based neutron-production system is being designed to cull bombs at risk of exploding prematurely — and make the feedstock for a major isotope used in nuclear medicine.

The scientist who developed quark theory turns 80 today. To mark the occasion, Science News presents an extended interview with the physicist.

A new study using a high-speed camera finds the shattering of solitary drips can produce a variety of sizes. (p. 12)

New studies reveal that a thick, soft plant expels its progeny in an unexpected way.

The existence of a small, elderly black hole places a new upper limit on the length of any extra dimension, a new study suggests. (p. 7)

An exotic cousin of the proton is caught in action again. But its measured mass doesn’t match previous results. (p. 14)

Finding could lead to new technique for making tiny wires. (p. 14)

Researchers study secrets of microbes' locomotion and how to mimic that movement. (p. 22)

Scientists suggest a way to put ultracold atoms to work. (p. 14)