Hepeng Yao

Textbooks divide particles into two camps: bosons love to crowd into the same state, fermions absolutely refuse. But nature allows a third option. Anyons are quasiparticles whose behavior lies somewhere in between. They can 'remember' how they were exchanged and obey a nonstandard exclusion principle.

Quantum tunneling — the ability of particles to pass through barriers forbidden by classical physics — powers stars with thermonuclear fusion, ignites primordial nucleosynthesis, and gives us flash memory.