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Human DNase I is shown to be overexpressed in hypoxic environments in vitro and to be incorporated into human hepatitis B virus (HBV) particles, resulting in virions devoid of genomic DNA. These findings might help explain the low levels of circulating HBV DNA commonly observed in cirrhotic livers and liver tumours.

Genome-wide association studies of individuals from an isolated population (data from the Finnish biobank study FinnGen) and consequent meta-analyses facilitate the identification of previously unknown coding variant associations for both rare and common diseases.

Dense calcium imaging combined with co-registered high-resolution electron microscopy reconstruction of the brain of the same mouse provide a functional connectomics map of tens of thousands of neurons of a region of the primary cortex and higher visual areas.

Genome-wide association analysis in over one million individuals of European ancestry identifies 2,103 independent genetic signals (including 113 new loci) associated with blood pressure traits.

There is intensive research underway into the development of fuel cells. Here, the authors present a proton exchange membrane fuel cell based on quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion pairs, offering promising performance under a wide range of conditions that are unattainable with conventional technologies.

Protein-mediated transport is implicated in trafficking fatty acids at contact sites of lipid droplets and mitochondria. Here, the authors use proteomics to catalogue the proteins at this contact site and report a mechanism of fatty acid transfer that regulates fatty acid oxidation and lipid homeostasis.

Here, the authors present multi-ancestry genome-wide meta-analyses of uterine fibroids, identifying 11 new gene associations, and demonstrating that heritability is higher in African ancestries.

Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of infectious disease and have unique molecular pathophysiology. Here the authors use host-microbe profiling to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity in solid organ transplant recipients, showing enhanced viral abundance, impaired clearance, and increased expression of innate immunity genes.

Infection studies on highly pathogenic avian influenza virus clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 on calves and lactating cows indicate that transmission occurs primarily via milk and milking procedures rather than respiratory routes.

Polaritonic Fourier crystal provides harmonic modulation of the polariton momentum in a pristine polaritonic waveguide. Authors employ hexagonal boron nitride and near-field imaging to probe Bloch waves of phonon-polaritons in the Fourier crystal.

Analyzing readouts of inflammaging across four cohorts, Franck and colleagues identify strong variation and observe that inflammaging, in its known form, primarily emerges in industrialized—but not nonindustrialized—populations.

The archaeological site Shinfa-Metema 1 in the lowlands of northwest Ethiopia provides early evidence of intensive riverine-based foraging aided by the likely adoption of the bow and arrow.

Although effector activity and memory formation in CD8 + T cells are known to depend on mTORC1-mediated metabolic regulation, the molecular mechanisms involved are lesser known. Here authors show that NKG7, a lysosomal protein specifically expressed in CD8 + T cells, inhibits mTORC1 function via the lysosomal proton pump, vacuolar ATPase, promoting antitumor activity and expansion of memory T cell precursors.

Using second harmonic amplitude and phase measurements the authors characterize the alignment of water molecules in the Stern-layer and the work associated with water flipping on hematite electrodes, suggesting a causal relationship between water flipping and the oxygen evolution reaction overpotential.

Theoretical analysis reveals that spasers do not differ fundamentally from conventional semiconductor lasers; differences are mainly technical and result from loss in the metal. Spasers are shown to have significantly inferior threshold currents and linewidths to those of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, but their speed can be slightly greater.

A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of type 2 diabetes (T2D) identifies more than 600 T2D-associated loci; integrating physiological trait and single-cell chromatin accessibility data at these loci sheds light on heterogeneity within the T2D phenotype.

Bergmann’s Rule predicts larger body sizes in colder climates. Here, the authors examine extinct and extant dinosaurs (birds) and mammaliaforms, finding no evidence of body size variation with latitude in any group, but a small variation with temperature in extant birds.

The mechanisms behind the negative effects of social isolation on social species are unclear. Here, the authors examine colonies of carpenter ants, finding that behavioral, physiological, and lifespan changes may be caused by oxidative stress.

An analysis of 24,202 critical cases of COVID-19 identifies potentially druggable targets in inflammatory signalling (JAK1), monocyte–macrophage activation and endothelial permeability (PDE4A), immunometabolism (SLC2A5 and AK5), and host factors required for viral entry and replication (TMPRSS2 and RAB2A).

Melting experiments with planetary materials show that oxidized core formation occurred via percolation of molten sulfide at low igneous temperatures.

The suitability of non-invasive surrogate samples for detecting breast cancer remains to be systematically explored. Here, the authors compare non-invasive, non-tumour DNA methylation profiles from cervical, buccal, and blood samples and develop classifiers for breast cancer detection for each sample type.

Our knowledge of life in the Carboniferous Period is largely restricted to low-lying wetlands dated to 315–310 million years ago. Here, the authors present an older Lagerstätte on an alluvial fan 320–318 million years ago, preserving a diverse ecosystem of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and plant-insect interactions.

A rare case of asymptomatic dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s reveals confined tau pathology and unique proteomic features, highlighting potential resilience mechanisms decades beyond expected onset.

The high observed abundance of atmospheric methanol over remote oceans is still not well-explained. Here the authors use quantum calculations and atmospheric modelling to show the reaction of methyl peroxy and hydroxyl radicals is a major methanol source (115 Tg/yr), comparable to global terrestrial emissions.

Laser excitation of the ²²⁹Th isomer, potentially relevant for nuclear clocks, is reported in thorium fluoride thin films, which are less radioactive and amenable to integration compared with existing thorium-doped crystals.

The authors collate literature on the responses of bird assemblages to forest loss and show that locations with a more variable natural environment and a longer history of agricultural land use have bird assemblages that are more tolerant to forest loss.

Bergstedt et al. show that the effects of genetic liability to major depressive disorder can cause an increase in cardiovascular risk and that metabolic, psychological and lifestyle factors are partly responsible for this association.

Combining human proteome and transcriptome analyses and Mendelian randomization on a large genetic dataset of HFpEF and HFrEF cases, Rasooly et al. identified 58 potential therapeutic targets specific for either HEpEF or HFrEF and created their therapeutic target profiles.

By bringing together whole exome and genome sequencing data from five cohorts, the authors assess the contribution of rare germline variants to prostate cancer risk and severity, further validating previously reported genes, and implicating a role for genes not previously reported.

Peer review information

Nature Communications thanks the anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. A peer review file is available.

Genomic, transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses of malignant pleural mesothelioma identify molecular axes and specialized tumor profiles underlying intertumoral heterogeneity.

Insulin resistance is emerging as an early metabolic risk marker in youth with mood disorders. In this Comment, we examine the interplay of insulin resistance, inflammation and circadian disruption that worsens both metabolic symptoms and mood symptoms, highlighting the potential for early integrated interventions.

Chemical modifications of aptamers can enhance binding properties, however, the design of suitable functional groups remains challenging. Here, the authors introduce cyclooctatetraene (COT)-modified nucleotides in SELEX experiments, identifying COT-aptamers with low nM dissociation constants, highlighting the potential of three-dimensional ligands in aptamer discovery.

Federated ML (FL) provides an alternative to train accurate and generalizable ML models, by only sharing numerical model updates. Here, the authors present the largest FL study to-date to generate an automatic tumor boundary detector for glioblastoma.