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A sensitive upconversion nanocrystal-based biometric optical tactile sensor instantaneously and quantitatively decomposes dynamic touch signals into individual components of vertical normal and lateral shear force from a single image in real-time.

The outflow pathway of cerebrospinal fluid into lymph nodes in the neck and how non-invasive mechanical stimulation can enhance drainage and restore impaired outflow in aged mice are explored.

Tissue engineering is essential for drug screening and regenerative medicine. Here, authors developed an acoustofluidic method that can induce morphogenesis of therapeutic tissues at varied dimensions/scales.

A stealthy neural recorder allows for the study of the behaviour of non-human primates in naturalistic settings.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is an eco-friendly oxidizer and a promising energy carrier, but it is primarily synthesized through the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. Here sustainable and unassisted electrochemical H₂O₂ production coupled to glycerol oxidation is reported, operating without an external bias or solar energy input.

Kim et al. reveal that TFEB expression is protective in the setting of diet-induced obesity by activating the expression of GDF15 in adipose tissue macrophages in mice and humans.

The oxide passivation layer on the lithium metal surface causes uneven deposition and stripping in lithium metal batteries. Here authors introduce uniform homo-epitaxial lithium deposition on the metal surface to alleviate this issue and improve the cycle stability of the lithium metal batteries.

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.

Designing an efficient platform that enables verbal communication without vocalization remains a challenge. Here, the authors propose a silent speech interface by utilizing a deep learning algorithm combined with strain sensors attached near the subject’s mouth, able to collect 100 words and classify at a high accuracy rate.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) deposition is associated with islet cell loss in diabetes. Here the authors show that a small molecule autophagy enhancer reduces IAPP accumulation in vitro, and also improves glucose tolerance in hIAPP⁺ mice fed high-fat diet, accompanied by reduced hIAPP accumulation, in vivo.

Using a sol–gel passivation method, the fabrication of blue InGaN nanorod-LEDs with the highest external quantum efficiency value ever reported for LEDs in the nanoscale is demonstrated.

We demonstrate a 1D linear potential system in superconducting films by creating vortex-antivortex pairs linked by either quantized or unquantized magnetic flux. Our study of vortex pair manipulation and thermal behavior reveals a 1D force mediated by unquantized magnetic flux. This discovery suggests a universal mechanism for forming 1D force systems, offering a new paradigm in the physics of 1D forces.

Multiple genetic loci are associated with lung cancer risk, but the underlying genetic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, the authors perform single-cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses of lung cells from ever- and never-smokers; they report candidate cis-regulatory elements that colocalise with candidate causal variants in lung cancer risk loci and potential susceptibility genes.

The COSINE-100U experiment upgrades the COSINE-100 detector to improve the search for dark matter interactions using ultra-low background NaI(Tl) crystals. By enhancing light collection efficiency and reducing background noise through a new encapsulation design, the experiment achieves higher sensitivity, advancing the investigation of the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation signal.

Artificial ion channels are in demand for ionotronic devices. Here, the authors use layered MXene membranes modified with plasmonic gold nanostars and cellulose nanofibers to convert a thermal gradient into an ion current for photosensitive ion channeling.

p62/SQSTM1 acts as a key mediator in the selective autophagy of protein aggregates, or aggrephagy. Here the authors identify the prefoldin-like chaperone UXT as an autophagy adaptor of p62 dependent aggrephagy and show that ectopic UXT expression delays motor neuron degeneration in a Xenopus model.

An analysis of gut microbiomes of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer reveals an association between Bifidobacterium bifidum abundance and response to cancer therapy. In murine models of syngeneic tumours, administration of commercial B. bifidum strains synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade to reduce tumour burden, but the therapeutic potential of B. bifidum is affected by strain-level variation.

Combining expansion microscopy with super-resolution radial fluctuations captures the morphology of single proteins.

Autophagy is important for pancreatic β-cell function, however, the role of mitophagy and mechanism for mitophagy in β-cells are unclear. Here the authors report that in stressed β-cells, lysosomal Ca²⁺ release promotes mitophagy via activation of the transcription factor EB (TFEB) and loss of β-cell TFEB aggravates glucose intolerance during high-fat diet.

In lung cancer, relatively few germline mutations are known to impact risk. Here the authors looked at rare variants in 39,146 individuals and find novel germline mutations associated with risk, as well as implicating ATM and a new candidate gene for lung cancer risk.

Carbon nanotube–polymer composites containing secondary fillers are thought to possess enhanced electrical and mechanical properties. Here the authors combine Monte Carlo calculations with resistivity experiments to study the effect of filler size and shape on electrical conductivity.

The chromosome 15q25.1 locus is a leading susceptibility region for lung cancer. Here, the authors interrogate three GWAS cohorts with 42,901 individuals to investigate potential pathological pathways such as gated channel activity and neuroactive ligand receptor interaction in lung cancer etiology.

The characterization of protein–protein interactions by combined single-molecule pull-down and single-molecule co-immunoprecipitation assays uncovers, for specific cancers, their dependence on signalling complexes of the human epidermal growth-factor receptor.

The cytokine TGF-β signals through canonical, Smad-dependent, and non-canonical, Smad-independent pathways. Jung et al. show that Smad6, an inhibitor of canonical TGF-β signalling, also inhibits a non-canonical pathway by recruiting a deubiquitinase to TRAF6.

Nanoparticles carrying an antibiotic and conjugated with a peptide identified via phage display that binds specifically to Staphylococcus aureus effectively suppress staphylococcal infections in vivo.

Autophagy plays an important role in metabolic functions and increased autophagic activity may be beneficial for metabolic disorders. Here the authors screen a chemical library for enhancer of autophagic flux and identify small molecules that improve the metabolic profile by increasing lysosomial functions.

Extremely fast charging such as charging 80% of capacity within 15 min is a pressing requirement for current lithium-ion battery technology. Here the authors achieve this by incorporating an artificial solid-electrolyte interphase rich in inorganic components on the graphite electrode.

Aurora B kinase is a member of the chromosomal passenger complex, which is an indispensable regulator of mitosis. Here the authors show that the deubiquitinating enzyme USP35 has a role in mitotic progression by inhibiting proteasomal degradation of Aurora B kinase, leading to its activation.

Roger Milne and colleagues conduct a genome-wide association study for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer combined with BRCA1 mutation carriers in a large cohort. They identify ten new risk variants and find high genetic correlation between breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers and risk of ER-negative breast cancer in the general population.

In the context of increasing bacterial antibiotic-resistance, gene therapy that targets the immune system to clear infection is a major goal. Here the authors show a silicon based nanosystem that modulates the macrophage response in an in vivo model of Staphylococcal pneumonia.

Christopher Amos and colleagues perform genome-wide association analysis for lung cancer using cohorts genotyped on the OncoArray and combing these with existing data. They identify 18 loci, 10 of which are new, finding heterogeneity across the different lung cancer subtypes, and explore candidate genes through eQTL analysis in lung tissue.