(a) Three-phase nucleoli assembly is readily reproduced using a simple stickers-and-spacers model, as shown by Feric et al. (b) Various distinct types of nuclear speckle architecture can also be recapitulated in a similar manner, as shown by Fei et al. (c) MEG-3 and PGL-3 form distinct phases in P-granules and in vitro, as demonstrated by Putnam et al. (d) A simple four component system (solvent, proline-arginine dipeptides, polyadenosine, polycytosine) forms two distinct dense phases due to distinct sticker-sticker strengths, as described by Boeynaems et al.