Search

A reinforcement learning-based virtual reality system, implementing a series of sport sessions with coaching, was as effective as standard physical activity in reducing fat mass in adolescents, with positive effects on cognition.

Effectiveness of existing H5N1 vaccines against circulating influenza strains remains largely unknow. Here, the authors test neutralization activity of sera from individuals vaccinated with an inactivated H5N1 vaccine against 17 pseudoviruses and suggest that high vaccine-induced antibody level likely provide cross-protection against circulating H5N1 strains.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Here, the authors determine that human neutrophil α-defensin HNP1 can promote A. baumannii biofilm formation.

Zhang et al. show that YAP binds to TDP-43 to promote TDP-43 multimerization and phase separation. YAP and TDP-43 may co-localize in multiple cell types in oxidative stress and in brain samples from individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

How the brain adapts to rising working memory demands remains unclear. Here, the authors show that entorhinal cortex power features contributed more under medium-to-high loads than hippocampus and lateral temporal cortex, serving as a bridge between these regions.

NIPBL perturbation activates long terminal repeat (LTR)-derived alternative promoters due to reorganization of chromatin’s hierarchical structure, leading to LTR co-option and oncogene activation in melanoma cell lines.

R9AP is a key receptor for entry of Epstein–Barr virus into human epithelial and B cells, and interacts directly with the viral glycoprotein gH/gL complex to mediate virus–host membrane fusion.

This study demonstrates how the mesostructure of nanoporous carbon electrodes influences ion dynamics, providing mechanistic insights and strategies for the technological advancement of fast-charging electrochemical energy storage systems.

DeepRETStroke is a deep learning system using retinal photographs to detect silent brain infarction and predict future stroke events.

The powdery mildew resistance of the MLIW170/PM26 locus, which originated from wild emmer wheat, is determined by a genetically linked atypical NLR gene pair, TdCNL1 and TdCNL5, with TdCNL1 encoding an atypical nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein integrating a potassium-dependent sodium-calcium exchanger ___domain.

Fan et al. show that cTAGE5 is essential for adipogenesis and adipose tissue development. Mechanistically, cTAGE5 promotes pro-insulin receptor processing, which mediates actin cytoskeleton remodeling and lipolysis during the adipocyte differentiation.

Neural Perturbational Inference is an approach for estimating effective connectivity, in which virtual perturbations to a surrogate brain allow gaining insights into human brain functions.

Chronic care manages long-term, progressive conditions, while acute care handles short-term ones. Here, authors show chronic conditions account for most of the global health burden, with 68% of DALYs and 93% of YLDs attributed to chronic care needs.

Using two cohorts, Liu, Ge, Xiao, Lu and colleagues perform plasma metabolomics and lipidomics, linking reduced sarcosine to sarcopenia diagnosis. In mice, they demonstrate that sarcosine enhances muscle repair, boosts adipose thermogenesis and preserves muscle mass via macrophage modulation.

Two types of amyloid-β protein (1–42) (Aβ₄₂) fibrils are known to form in the insoluble fraction of diseased human brains. Now, another type of Aβ₄₂ fibril (type III) has been identified in the soluble fraction of Alzheimer’s disease brain using cryo-electron microscopy. These studies also reveal differences in ligand–fibril interactions between fibril types.

The first outbreaks of mpox outside Africa in 2022 were caused by clade II but cases of a new clade Ib have been increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries since 2024. Here, the authors describe a case report and public health investigation of the first detected case of mpox clade Ib in China.

Flexible energy storage systems usually have limited energy densities. Here the authors report a flexible lithium–oxygen battery with the cathode consisting of titanium dioxide nanowire arrays grown on carbon textiles, which displays high mechanical strength as well as promising electrochemical performance.

Analysis of shallow-water marine carbonate samples from 101 stratigraphic units allows construction of a record of lithium isotopes from the past 3 billion years, tracking the evolution of the global carbon and silicon cycles.

Phase-forming conversion chemistry, like that observed in Li–S and Li–O₂ batteries, shows great promise, but these systems suffer some drawbacks, such as practically low cathode areal capacities and electrolyte decomposition. Now, high-energy conversion battery chemistry—based on nitrate/nitrite redox where one of the products is soluble—has been enabled by using nanoparticulate Ni/NiO electrocatalysts.

An icing forecast hydrogel device encapsulating ice-nucleating proteins colorimetrically predicts ice formation with high accuracy. The device successfully activated a wind turbine deicing system 70 min before ice accumulation.

Efficient adenine base editors for mitochondrial DNA are achieved with evolved TadA deaminases.

Polygenic risk scores for Alzheimer’s disease derived from individuals of European ancestry can show improved performance in multiancestry settings after incorporating genome-wide association summary statistics from diverse populations.

The mechanism of HIV-1 latency reversal remains unclear. The authors suggest that PRMT3 drives the reversal by enhancing chromatin accessibility to form a transcriptional hub containing TEAD4 and P-TEFb at the viral promoter.

Cyclic and mirror-image variants of de novo-designed proteins effectively bind and clear small-molecule drugs in vivo in less than 30 min, highlighting the applicability of computational tools to produce protein antidotes.

We investigate the mechanism underlying the sulfur reduction reaction that plays a central role in high-capacity lithium sulfur batteries, highlighting the electrocatalytic approach as a promising strategy for tackling the fundamental challenges associated with these batteries.

Ammonia and nitric acid are key platform chemicals to introduce nitrogen into organic molecules, however gaseous N₂ would be a more direct and available source of nitrogen. Here, the authors report a direct catalytic nitrogenation to afford valuable arylamines and N-heterocycles from organohalides using dinitrogen (N₂) as the nitrogen source.

Spontaneous parthenogenesis in sunflower has been used to develop a scalable doubled haploid breeding system.

High mobility group A1 (HMGA1) has been identified to play a role in tumour progression but its involvement in anti-tumour immunity of esophagael squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. Here the authors report that the inhibition of STING-mediated anti-tumour immunity by HMGA1 results in promotion of ESCC tumorigenesis.

Patients with Huntington’s disease carrying the FAN1 R507H mutation have earlier than predicted onset of motoric symptoms. This study provides mechanistic insight into the interactions that may promote CAG repeat expansion. FAN1 R507 interacts with PCNA D232 and this interaction is impaired for FAN1 R507H, resulting in reduced FAN1 activity.

Organic phosphorescence materials offer advantages for bioimaging applications, but most of them are excited exclusively by ultraviolet light, which poses risks to living organisms. Here, the author report doped materials with white-light activated phosphorescence activity, and a bioimaging mode in which these phosphorescent materials are first concentrated within the organism and then excited.

MultiSTAAR provides a general and flexible statistical framework for functionally informed multi-trait rare variant analysis of biobank-scale sequencing studies by jointly analyzing multiple traits and incorporating annotation information.

First-instar orchid mantis nymphs avoid predators by mimicking black-red assassin bugs, whereas those in later instars avoid predators and attract prey by camouflaging themselves as lighter-coloured flowers. Here the authors use developmental transcriptomics, evolutionary genomics and predation experiments to reveal that this ontogenetic colour change is regulated by a pigment transporter called Redboy that emerged in Polyneoptera 284–197 million years ago.

A natural product containing an acylsulfenic acid functional group was discovered in a marine Streptomyces bacterium. Its biosynthesis is orchestrated by enzymes from both primary and secondary metabolism, including a flavin-dependent S-hydroxylase. The prevalence of enzymes catalysing the production of acylsulfenic acid in bacteria implies a potentially broad distribution of this functional group in specialized metabolites.

Stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) is heavily investigated due to its role in improving lithium metal batteries. Here, the authors present a new strategy by employing electrolyte additives to construct stable multifunctional SEI via in situ anionic polymerization.

Diatoms are crucial marine microorganisms, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their temperature tolerance remain unclear. This study identifies the heat shock transcription factor PtHSF2 as a key regulator of thermal tolerance and cell size plasticity in Phaeodactylum tricornutum, revealing its role in gene regulation and stress response.

Here, the authors leverage whole-genome sequencing from >88,000 diverse individuals to uncover 18 BMI-related genetic signals, including novel variants in participants of African genetic ancestry, highlighting the value of diversity in genetic discovery.

Analyses of genome and exome sequencing data identify rare coding and structural variants associated with atrial fibrillation and highlight genetic links between atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathies.

A gene-edited pig liver transplanted into a human recipient remains functional after 10 days and indicates that porcine organs could help meet the growing demand for liver transplants.

Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) critically regulates tau levels and aggregation by phosphorylating tau’s tyrosine 29. Partial inhibition of TYK2 mitigates tau pathologies in cells and mice, highlighting TYK2 as a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies.

Worldwide, the number of only-child families is increasing. This research examines how growing up without siblings affects adult brain structure, function and connectivity, cognition, personality and mental health.