In nature, the collective motion of birds and fish can generate impressive dynamics and unique structures, as seen in flocks of starlings and shoals of sardines. The science of active matter studies such complex behaviors across a wide range of scales and origins [1], and it has attracted growing interest over the past three decades. Active matter encompasses not only living things but also inanimate objects. Examples include active colloids [2] and active liquid crystals [3] that are able to self-propel—that is, move by themselves powered by internal energy sources. Now Clécio de Souza Silva and colleagues at the Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil have suggested an intriguing addition to the active-matter catalog: coupled pairs of skyrmions, whirlpool-like spin arrangements that emerge in certain magnetic materials. Their theoretical work shows that such skyrmion pairs might be able to move at speeds exceeding those observed in any active-matter system [4]. The behavior might encourage nonconventional and bioinspired computing devices based on skyrmion manipulation. For example, a magnetic film with many self-propelled skyrmions may serve as a dynamic reservoir for reservoir computing.
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