Researchers continue to push rival interpretations of a vexing problem in mesoscopic physics, the size scale where quantum and classical worlds co-exist. The conductance across a narrow bridge between two reservoirs of electrons--a so-called quantum point contact--was expected to follow simple quantum rules, but doesn't. A group publishing in the 9 December print issue of PRL proposes a model of automatic electron spin alignment to explain the conductance anomaly. But in the 4 November print issue, another group's theory supports the claim that physics concepts borrowed from the world of material impurities is key. Both teams hope they're approaching a resolution to a problem that has turned mesoscopic physics on its head.
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