A stack of two atomic layers twisted like a kaleidoscope allows for the manual reprogramming of how electrons behave inside a material.

Electrons typically follow fixed rules dictated by the chemistry of the material they live in. Moiré patterns created by stacking atomic sheets at specific angles allow for the creation of new Dirac states that do not exist in nature. Spectroscopic evidence confirms that these states can be continuously tuned by simply changing the spacing of the lattice. Earlier physics models assumed these quantum properties were baked into the material at the time of its creation. Being able to dial in specific electronic behaviors on the fly could lead to transistors that change their fundamental logic gates with a physical shift.