In this issue, M. De Volder and A. J. Hart review the synthesis of hierarchical nanostructures through self-organization based on capillary interactions. How does the understanding of such processes help to develop, for example, high-performance batteries, photovoltaic devices, or smart materials? The Highlights deal with phosphate binding proteins (R. S. Goody) and fluorogenic probes (A. Nadler and C. Schultz).
In the Communications section, B. Zevkat and T. Solouki present a method for the ionization of neutral organic molecules in FT-ICR mass spectrometers by means of radio-frequency signals (see picture). S. Kyushin et al. report on a silicon cluster with 16 atoms. F. Glorius et al. succeeded in the NHC-catalyzed hydroacylation of styrenes.
