A recent study, Antiferroelectric Order in Nematic Liquids: Flexoelectricity vs. Electrostatics, by Peter Medle Rupnik, Ema Hanžel, Matija Lovšin, Natan Osterman, Nerea Sebastian, and Alenka Mertelj from the Jožef Stefan Institute and University of Ljubljana, along with colleagues from the University of Leeds, published in Advanced Science, explores the origin of antiferroelectric order in nematic liquids. It identifies flexoelectric coupling—between electric polarization and splay deformation of the nematic director—as the dominant mechanism. The study sheds light on the intermediate phase between apolar and ferroelectric nematic states, characterized by a distinct antiferroelectric response to electric fields. By advancing the understanding of ferroelectric nematic liquids and their phase transitions, this work provides a refined framework for future research in the field.