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The ability to predict wildfires-such as those that recently devastated Los Angeles and Canada-is advancing rapidly with the help of AI. This study shows that to improve accuracy and reliability, we must prioritize the collection and integration of high-quality data.

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

A genome-wide study by the Long COVID Host Genetics Initiative identifies an association between the FOXP4 locus and long COVID, implicating altered lung function in its pathophysiology.

Brillouin scattering microscopy is prone to artefacts and inconsistencies. This Consensus statement provides recommendations for measuring and reporting relevant parameters with the aim of standardizing protocols and improving the comparability of studies.

The homeostasis and function of adipose tissue are tightly regulated by immune cells, with macrophages playing a pivotal role. Here the authors show that PpargHIGH macrophages positively enhance brown adipose tissue thermogenesis through GDF15.

Whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome-wide association and fine-mapping analyses in over 7,000 individuals with critical COVID-19 are used to identify 16 independent variants that are associated with severe illness in COVID-19.

Juno’s close flyby of Ganymede on 7 June 2021 allowed the infrared mapping spectrometer JIRAM to observe the surface at unprecedented spatial resolution. JIRAM’s detailed spectroscopic characterization reveals past extensive aqueous alteration on the moon, possibly together with hydrothermal activity.

Potential anti-tumor therapies remain to be discovered in cancer cell line high-throughput screening datasets. Here, the authors develop a machine learning approach to infer cancer cell drug sensitivity from transcriptomics data and to explore drug mechanisms of action, and predict effective drugs for pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.

Neuroinflammation and autophagy are two pillars of ALS pathogenesis targeted by rapamycin. Here, in a randomized, double-blind, phase 2 clinical trial, the authors find rapamycin to be safe and well tolerated in ALS patients, supporting further studies.

A genome-wide association study of critically ill patients with COVID-19 identifies genetic signals that relate to important host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage that may be targeted by repurposing drug treatments.

A cross-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) including 29,612 patients with ALS and 122,656 controls identifies 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology.

Martin Zenker, Marco Tartaglia, Reza Ahmadian and colleagues report the identification of a restricted spectrum of NRAS mutations in individuals with Noonan syndrome. Functional testing revealed that the mutations confer enhanced stimulus-dependent MAPK activation.

Phase 1 trial results reveal that intrathecal transplantation of human fetal neural precursor cells in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis is feasible, safe and tolerable.

Thermal rings at very high temperature around the floors of paterae on Io support the hypothesis that they represent active lava lakes, according to thermal imaging data from the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper on the Juno spacecraft

The mechanisms by which pyruvate metabolism defects lead to neurological symptoms in Leigh syndrome patients remain unclear. Here, the authors show a link between pyruvate metabolism and translation fidelity that is important for brain development.

In a comprehensive dataset from 3,652 patients across 20 centers in eight countries, an ultrasound-based AI model shows robust performance across centers, ultrasound systems, 58 histological diagnoses and patient age groups and reduced referral to experts by 63% in a retrospective triage simulation.

Fiorina and colleagues document alterations in glucose metabolism in patients with COVID-19 and use continuous glucose monitoring to show that glycaemic abnormalities could still be detected 2 months after disease onset in patients who had recovered.

Here, the authors report that exhausted HCV-specific CD8+ T cells are marked by upregulation of p53 signaling already detectable in an early phase of chronic HCV infection and by a later development of a repressive chromatin state, and show that chemical targeting of these pathways improves CD8+ T cell metabolism and antiviral function.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias identifies new loci and enables generation of a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) is considered one of the most aggressive forms of this cancer. Here, the authors show that Otx2 and c-MYC oncogenes can drive Group 3 MB formation in mouse and human cerebellar organoids while SMARCA4 overexpression or a EZH2-specific inhibitor can inhibit tumorigenesis.

A multifaceted computational strategy identifies 16 genetic variants contributing to increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection from a Whole Exome Sequencing dataset of a cohort of Italian patients.

The generation of primary organoids, from fetal fluid-derived epithelial stem or progenitor cells, offers the possibility of modeling different developing tissues during gestation, even beyond the limits of pregnancy termination.

ERAP1 is an endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase that trims MHC Class-I peptides for antigen presentation. Here, the authors show that ERAP1 enhances Hedgehog signalling by sequestering USP47 from  βTrCP and promoting tumorigenesis through βTrCP degradation and increased Gli protein stability.

Folding-related brittle deformation structures in accretionary wedges may contribute to shallow seismicity in subduction zones, according to a compilation of structural evidence.

The role of epigenetic deregulation in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not fully understood yet. Here the authors use patient-derived organoids, epigenomics and single-cell RNA-seq to reveal that YAP/TAZ are key regulators that bind to active enhancers in CRC and promote tumour survival.

This study aims at enhancing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases via innovative approaches. Findings demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of intracerebral transplantation of TREM2-engineered HSCs in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model.