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Efficient characterisation of quantum many-body Hamiltonians has important applications for benchmarking NISQ devices. Here, the authors propose a method employing Chebyshev regression to learn the full Hamiltonian of a quantum system, with a sample complexity that scales efficiently with the system size.

To infer a previously unknown molecular formula from mass spectrometry data is a challenging, yet neglected problem. Ludwig and colleagues present a network-based approach to ranking possible formulas.

Drug-controlled DROP-CARs enable reversible extracellular control of CAR T cell function via human-derived protein switches that modulate cell–cell interactions and support dual-antigen targeting as well as logic-gated signaling.

Chlorine electrosynthesis from seawater is limited by poor selectivity and stability under industrial-scale conditions. Here atomic-step-enriched ultrafine high-entropy alloy nanowires enable highly efficient chlorine evolution at 10 kA m⁻² for over 5,500 h through dynamic Pt–O active sites, reducing electricity consumption and feedstock costs for next-generation chlor-alkali processes.

Low oxidation state aluminium complexes have gained wide recognition as discrete and versatile 2-electron reductants, but neutral trimeric structures remain elusive. Here the authors report the synthesis and characterization of two neutral Al(I) trimers whose trimeric structure is retained in solution.

The instability of conventional lithium salts poses a challenge for next-generation batteries. Here, the authors introduce LiDFTFB, a new salt that exhibits improved stability and enables high-energy batteries to retain 81.7% capacity after 650 cycles at 50°C.

Bruijns et al. present a modeling tool that enables the tracking of learning dynamics across subjects to reveal how behaviors emerge and adapt. Applying the tool to a decision-making task in mice uncovers similarities and differences across individuals.

Evolution selects for the fittest but must operate within the realm of the physically possible. Here, the authors present a theoretical framework that allows them to explore how ten abiotic constraints can shape the operation, regulation, and adaptation of metabolism in E. coli.

Spiropyran and merocyanine systems are useful due to the photoswitching properties, but do have some limitations. Here, the authors report pyridine-substituted merocyanines as photochromic compounds, with a photoinitiated C-N bond formation.

Superconducting-qubit quantum annealers have served as platforms for simulating condensed-matter phenomena. Sathe et al. use a quantum annealer to probe critical phenomena in classical magnets by reliably sampling thermal distributions, revealing universal signatures of phase transitions without classical slowdowns.

The upwelling mantle beneath Iceland underwent melt depletion at least 1 billion years ago and is therefore compositionally buoyant, according to a study of neodymium and hafnium isotope ratios in peridotites from the Charlie Gibbs Transform Zone.

Chemical disequilibrium is a known biosignature, and it is important to determine the conditions for its remote detection. A thermodynamical model coupled with atmospheric retrieval shows that a disequilibrium can be inferred for a Proterozoic Earth-like exoplanet in reflected light at a high O₂/CH₄ abundance case and signal-to-noise ratio of 50.

A martensitic alloy with a tensile strength exceeding 3 GPa and a fracture elongation of 5.13% is developed. These mechanical properties arise from interface complexes interacting with dense dislocation networks, which is a mechanism shown to be applicable to other compositions.

Methane emission occurs in natural wetlands on a large scale, but the corresponding trace element emissions have not been studied. Here, the authors study selenium and arsenic emission in a pristine peatland and show that this causes large amounts of those trace elements to enter the biogeochemical cycle.

Controlling the hydrothermal reaction kinetics during the fabrication of Sb₂(S,Se)₃ solar cells is challenging. Chen Qian et al. show that sodium sulfide buffers the pH and allows a controlled release of Se, enabling a certified efficiency of 10.7%.

Experimental realizations of discrete time crystals have mainly involved 1D models with Ising-like couplings. Here, the authors realize a 2D discrete time crystal with anisotropic Heisenberg coupling on a quantum simulator based on superconducting qubits, uncovering a rich phase diagram.

Electrochemical CO reduction to multi-carbon products offers a carbon-negative approach to produce chemicals, but the intricate reaction pathways lead to a broad spectrum of products. Now it has been shown that alkali cations alter the mechanistic pathways that govern the reaction selectivity involved in the formation of hydrocarbons versus oxygenates.

Regioselectivity during electrophilic aromatic substitution is typically controlled by substituents on the aryl group. Here the authors report an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction, wherein remote chiral ester groups direct the electrophile to a precise location on the molecule.

The cortex contains a recurrent network of stochastically spiking neurons that performs many of the computations underlying perception and behavior. Here, the authors show how such networks can implement sampling-based probabilistic inference.

Multiple freezing–melting pathways of ice VI are found at room temperature, occurring via the ice XXI and ice VII phases. Supercompressed water structurally evolves from high-density water to very-high-density water.

Atomic-scale spinodal decomposition enabled diffusion was observed within ordered nanoprecipitates that have structural imperfections, resulting from dynamic interaction of Gibbs energy, activation energy of atomic jumps and phase ordering in multicomponent alloys.

Nitrate contamination in water poses environmental and health risks. Here, authors design alkylated polyaniline polymers that selectively capture nitrate over chloride, improving removal efficiency and reducing costs in wastewater treatment.

Using AI and computer simulations, this study finds that the Earth’s inner core may have a cubic structure, which better matches how seismic waves travel through it than the hexagonal form found in pure iron.

Studies of humans, mice and nematodes reveal a conserved role of neural activity and the transcription factor REST in extended longevity.

The APOE-ε4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, but it is not deterministic. Here, the authors show that common genetic variation changes how APOE-ε4 influences cognition.

Enzymes adapt by sampling new conformations while balancing destabilizing effects of mutations. Here, the authors reveal how TEM-1 β-lactamase acquires cefotaxime resistance through reshaping of dynamic conformational ensembles and localized stability networks, offering insight into the molecular framework of the activity-stability tradeoff.

Anhydrides are used in creating covalent adaptable networks for recycling thermosets and plastic wastes, yet their bond exchange mechanism is not fully understood. Herein, the authors elucidate this mechanism under uncatalysed and acid-catalysed reaction conditions using density functional theory, revealing that acid catalysis can reduce the bond exchange barrier at lower temperatures.

How white matter develops along the length of major tracts in humans remains unknown. Here, the authors identify fundamental patterns of human white matter development along distinct axes that reflect brain organization.

An Ohmic contact interface engineering strategy was proposed by loading copper nano islands on indium hydroxide nanocubes, which could trigger and stabilize the polarized Cu0 -Cuδ+ active sites. Such catalyst enabled effective ammonia electrosynthesis with nitrate under ambient conditions

Storage of information, in any form, relies on patterns standing out from thermal fluctuations. In this work, the authors highlight a fundamental tradeoff quantifying the minimum amount of nonequilibrium resources needed to achieve a target level of accuracy in the processing of information.

Catalytic methods that generate Z-alkenes are rare due to the energetic favourability of the corresponding E-alkenes. Now, a bisphosphine–iron catalyst mediates the multicomponent dialkylation of allenes, using dialkylzinc reagents and alkyl halides, to selectively form functionalized trisubstituted Z-alkenes.

Using a mouse model with a macrophage-specific DNA repair defect, Niotis, Arvanitaki et al. identify DNA damage-induced autophagy in macrophages as a link from aging to autoimmunity.

A statistical method to quantify crystallographic textures in aluminum alloys under additive manufacturing conditions is introduced. Experiments and simulations reveal interfacial energy anisotropy dominates texture selection and grain competition.

Developing highly active and robust catalysts remains a challenge for the implementation of nitrate reduction. The authors introduce a screw dislocation-mediated 3D printing strategy to fabricate curvature-controlled electrodes with 3D lattice strain, enhancing nitrate reduction performance.

The high freezing point of water limits the performance of aqueous electrolyte at low temperatures. Here, authors demonstrate that cations lower the freezing point via deshielding effect, enhance ion transport kinetics by dual-cation effects, resulting in stable battery operation from 50 to −80 °C.

Here, the authors effect a B(sp²)-to-B(sp³) transformation strategy for the enantioselective synthesis of tetracoordinate boron molecules by leveraging the inherent structural features of commonly used boron compounds.

Multi-trait genome-wide analyses identify variants associated with comorbid lung diseases. Polygenic scores leveraging shared components of heritable risk improve prediction of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer in a multi-ancestry cohort.

Recent experiments reveal undetermined crystalline phases near the melting minimum region in lithium. Here, the authors use a crystal structure search method combined with machine learning to explore the energy landscape of lithium and predict complex crystal structures.

The impact of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) on protein function and cancer risk remain unclear. Here, the authors focus on the functional impact of VUS of the PALB2 gene and identify defects in DNA damage repair by homologous recombination associated with increased risk of breast cancer.