Search

The quark structure of the f₀(980) hadron is still unknown after 50 years of its discovery. Here, the CMS Collaboration reports a measurement of the elliptic flow of the f₀(980) state in proton-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 8.16 TeV, providing strong evidence that the state is an ordinary meson.

Boron is known to form a wide variety of molecular structures. Here, the authors observe the highly symmetric cobalt-centered boron drum-like structure of CoB₁₆⁻, characterized by photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, in which the cobalt atom is sixteen-coordinate.

A study reports whole-genome sequences for 490,640 participants from the UK Biobank and combines these data with phenotypic data to provide new insights into the relationship between human variation and sequence variation.

The welding and sintering of nanoparticles is relevant, for example, to establish electrical contacts between particles in printed electronic devices. Here, using electron microscopy and computer simulations, Grouchko et al. discover a room-temperature sintering process driven by a selective wettability of silver nanoparticles independent of their shape.

The LHCb experiment at CERN has observed significant asymmetries between the decay rates of the beauty baryon and its CP-conjugated antibaryon, thus demonstrating CP violation in baryon decays.

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 large-scale analysis of DNA-bound transcription factors (TFs) shows how the presence of DNA markedly affects the landscape of TF interactions, and identifies composite motifs that are recognized by complexes of TFs rather than by individual ones.

Many insects supply secretion via small tubes or pores to the end of their legs to be able to attach to a surface. Here, inspired by nature, Xue et al.fabricate adhesive pads with porous nanorod structure for oil delivery, which give rise to a 100-fold increase in adhesivity under humid conditions.

Structural Variant Search, a combination of a chimera-free library preparation and a non-consensus-based SV-calling algorithm, enables the quantitative detection of rare somatic variants.

Genome-wide data from 166 East Asian individuals dating to between 6000 bc and ad 1000 and from 46 present-day groups provide insights into the histories of mixture and migration of human populations in East Asia.

Using a gas-filled anti-resonant-reflection photonic-crystal fibre, a high-brightness table-top source of coherent carrier-envelope-phase-stable waveforms is demonstrated across seven octaves (340 nm to 40,000 nm) with ultraviolet peak powers up to 2.5 MW and terahertz peak powers of 1.8 MW, without the need for changing nonlinear crystals.

Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are primary tools for precise optical control over living cells. Structures of a viral ChR, OLPVR1, in closed (1.1 Å) and open (1.3 Å) states reveal the key details of its molecular mechanism.

The study highlights the importance of water-mediated interactions in recognition of dinucleotides by transcription factors. Water’s influence on enthalpy and entropy modulates binding affinity and temperature sensitivity of TF binding.

Modified nucleosides are often used in mRNA vaccines and can affect protein expression and immunogenicity. Here, the authors compare M segment based Andes virus mRNA vaccines, either with regular uridine or N1-methylpseudouridine, and characterize immune response and protection in rodents.

The CMS Collaboration reports evidence for off-shell Higgs boson contributions in the production of Z boson pairs, and measures the width of the Higgs boson, which is inversely related to its lifetime.

Genotype and exome sequencing of 150,000 participants and whole-genome sequencing of 9,950 selected individuals recruited into the Mexico City Prospective Study constitute a valuable, publicly available resource of non-European sequencing data.

How aging affects the brain active milieu remains unknown. Here, the authors reveal atrophy and mitochondrial malfunction of astrocytes but not neurons in older human neocortex.

Experimental deletion of the furin cleavage site of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein highlights an important role for this site in infection and the need to consider this site when evaluating the neutralization activities of antibodies.

Combined analysis of proton-proton collision data from the Large Hadron Collider at CERN by the CMS and LHCb collaborations leads to the observation of the extremely rare decay of the strange B meson into muons; the result is compatible with the standard model of particle physics, and does not show any signs of new physics, such as supersymmetry.

The CMS Collaboration reports the study of three simultaneous hard interactions between quarks and gluons in proton–proton collisions. This manifests through the concurrent production of three J/ψ mesons, which consist of a charm-quark–antiquark pair.

Patients with neurodevelopmental conditions without a monogenic diagnosis have a higher polygenic burden than those with a monogenic diagnosis. Non-transmitted common alleles in the parents are associated with the child’s phenotype, and the common and rare variants conferring risk are correlated.

Peptide arrays are used in areas such as measuring protein-protein interactions, but achieving high density in synthesis is challenging. Here, the authors report a method for the combinatorial synthesis of high density peptides arrays by laser driven sequential transfer of monomers onto acceptor surfaces.

Helium is generally recognized as being chemically inert. A thermodynamically stable compound of helium and sodium, Na₂He, has been predicted computationally and then synthesized at high pressure. It exists as an electride, where strongly localized electrons serve as anions located at the centre of Na₈ cubes.

A structure of the prostaglandin E₂ receptor 3 (EP3) bound to the agonist misoprostol shows a completely enclosed binding pocket with a structured water molecule that coordinates misoprostol's ring structure and explains the receptor's selectivity.

Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDV) that infect algae encode two distinct families of microbial rhodopsins. Here, the authors characterise two proteins form the viral rhodopsin group 1 OLPVR1 and VirChR1, present the 1.4 Å crystal structure of OLPVR1 and show that viral rhodopsins 1 are light-gated cation channels.

Rhodopsin genes have been identified in some large double-stranded DNA viruses, but the structure and functions of viral rhodopsins remain unknown. Here authors present crystal structure and characterization of an Organic Lake Phycodnavirus rhodopsin II (OLPVRII) which forms a pentamer and is a weak proton pump.

The most up-to-date combination of results on the properties of the Higgs boson is reported, which indicate that its properties are consistent with the standard model predictions, within the precision achieved to date.

The E2F family of transcription factors controls many important cellular processes. Here, the authors determine the structure of an atypical E2F that contains two DNA binding domains, and propose a mechanism of action for these atypical E2Fs.

The LHCb collaboration reports an improved measurement of the oscillation frequency of mesons consisting of a bottom quark and strange quark, which is then combined with previous results.

Gaining insight on the structural transformations from atomic clusters to bulk materials is challenging. Here the authors synthesize a continuous cluster of germanium Ge₂₄⁴⁻, which can be viewed as two terminal Ge₉ units bridged via a Ge₆ central fragment, and characterize it by several techniques including X-ray diffraction; theoretical analysis indicates the presence of three aligned independent aromatic fragments.

Ternary heterometallic clusters often display intriguing structures and bonding. Here the authors prepare four [Sn₂Sb₅]³⁻-based clusters stabilized by coordination of a transition metal ion; analysis of their electronic structure reveals that the resulting cluster displays globally aromatic or antiaromatic character depending on the transition metal ion.

Single-cell analysis of lung, heart, kidney and liver autopsy samples shows the molecular and cellular changes and immune response resulting from severe COVID-19 infection.

Crystal structures of the microbial rhodopsin KR2, a recently discovered light-driven sodium pump, reveal the translocation pathway of sodium ions and shed light on the molecular mechanism of ion pumping.

The existence and properties of tetraquark states with two heavy quarks and two light antiquarks have been widely debated. Here, the authors use a unitarized model to study the properties of an exotic narrow state compatible with a doubly charmed tetraquark.