Perspectives in 2024

Modern biotechnology necessitates robust biosecurity protocols to address the risk of engineered biological threats. In this Perspective, the authors review cutting-edge methods for DNA analysis and recommend avenues to improve biosecurity in an adaptable manner.

Technical advances have enabled simultaneous study of the molecular and biomechanical inputs involved in regulating development. In this Perspective, the authors give a historical view of these advances and propose that biomechanical cues in the marine environment may have helped foster metazoan evolution.

The human cell atlas (HCA) is intended as an exhaustive guidebook of human cell types and their properties. Here Kirby et al. outline how the HCA Ethics Working Group is working to build a solid foundation to address the complexities of data collection and sharing.

The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) aims to characterize cells from diverse individuals across the globe to better understand human biology. Here, the authors lay out principles and action items that have been adopted to affirm HCA’s commitment to equity so that the atlas is beneficial to all of humanity.

The rise of high-throughput methods and computer-aided techniques has led to a shift in the design and discovery patterns of nanomedicines to a data-driven and rational mode. In this perspective, the authors describe a directed evolution mode of nanomedicines driven by data to accelerate the discovery of nanomaterials with high delivery efficiency.

Individualized genetic therapies present unique challenges for trial design. Here, the authors present a framework which emphasizes scientific rigor, using natural history, tailored clinical outcomes, and statistical considerations to optimize trial efficiency.

Long-term machine perfusion holds great promise in the field of liver transplantation, potentially allowing for extended viability checks as well as treatment of marginal discarded organs. Here, the authors discuss the advances in machine perfusion techniques for liver transplants as well as future potential clinical avenues that it will open up including potential splitting of livers.

Brain imaging analysis lacks accessible ground-truth approaches, leading to varied results across the field. Embracing analytical variability may allow researchers to enhance the generalizability of findings and accelerate progress.

Bacterial extracellular vesicles are rapidly gaining attention in biomarker discovery and therapeutic innovation. Here, the authors map current BEV research practices, highlight knowledge gaps and best practices to ensure advances in BEV research and accelerate BEV applications.

In this work, authors aim to address the critical challenges in diagnosing and managing beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, which are pivotal in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) is crucial for carbon storage, but its variability is difficult to capture due to inconsistent measurements and complex interactions. This perspective proposes integrating diverse data and models to improve CUE in carbon cycle models

The Southern Ocean ecosystem is recovering from 20th-century industrial whaling, while the krill fishery in this region has grown rapidly and may expand further, driven by demand for supplements and aquaculture feed. This Perspective discusses how current krill biomass is unlikely to support both a growing krill fishery and rebounding whale populations in the Southern Ocean.

Existing carbon capture and utilization technologies are hindered by significant energy penalties. Here, the authors discuss the Bio-Integrated Carbon Capture and Utilization (BICCU) technology, which mitigates the energy penalties while generating valuable C1 and C2 products.

In this Perspective, the authors propose that brain injury can result in sleep-like slowing of cortical EEG waves during wakefulness. The generation of these dynamics and their effects on brain networks and behavior are discussed, as well as future directions for neuromodulation.

Understanding fungal-plant interactions is vital to foster sustainable agriculture practices amidst climate change. Extremophilic fungi’s potential as plant probiotics can be crucial to increase crop yields while reducing dependence on toxic agrochemicals. However, the benefits and risks of extremophilic fungi used to promote plant growth and development should be carefully considered.

Plant genotype is a major driver of the structure and function of plant-associated microbial communities. In this Perspective, the author discusses targeted microbiome engineering through identification and selection of Microbiome genes within crops genomes.

Bridge fires cause significant disruptions and economic losses in modern society, yet fire hazards are still often ignored or oversimplified in bridge design. This Perspective emphasizes the need for more holistic and comprehensive fire-safety design when retrofitting or designing new bridges.

As space travel promises to become a reality for more humans, insights from human genetics could serve to inform space medicine. Here, the authors overview genetic variants that might confer a protective effect in space, and ethical and technical challenges to translating these findings.

The author sheds light on critical non-technological barriers that significantly limit the broad utilization of machine learning in optical networks and presents several prospective solutions. Various pathways are discussed for the evolving machine learning potential for its desired penetration, credibility, and impact in real-world optical networks.

Artificial intelligence is greatly accelerating research in drug discovery, but its development is still hindered by the lack of available data. Here the authors present data management and data science recommendations to help reach AI’s potential in the field.