Search

Human brain structure changes throughout the lifespan. Brouwer et al. identified genetic variants that affect rates of brain growth and atrophy. The genes are linked to early brain development and neurodegeneration and suggest involvement of metabolic processes.

Analysis of more than 95% of each diploid human genome of a four-generation, twenty-eight-member family using five complementary short-read and long-read sequencing technologies provides a truth set to understand the most fundamental processes underlying human genetic variation.

Genome-wide association analyses of intracranial and nine subcortical brain volumes in 74,898 participants of European ancestry identify 254 independent loci and yield polygenic scores accounting for brain variation across ancestries.

Mangroves are adapted to cope with tropical storms, but might be threatened by rising frequency and intensity of these events. Here the authors document one of the largest mangrove diebacks on record following Hurricane Irma in Florida, and show a greater role of storm surge and ponding rather than wind as a mechanism for mangrove dieback.

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.

A sunflower pan-genome determined by sequencing about 500 accessions, including wild, landrace and cultivated lines, showed that introgression from the wild species has profoundly shaped the cultivar gene pool and contributed disease resistance genes.

Cortex morphology varies with age, cognitive function, and in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Here the authors report 160 genome-wide significant associations with thickness, surface area and volume of the total cortex and 34 cortical regions from a GWAS meta-analysis in 22,824 adults.

A decade of sound science and aggressive deal making has given Sangamo Biosciences a stranglehold on zinc finger technologies. Now, academic labs that helped build Sangamo's empire want in on the action. Are the ingredients ripe for a revolt that could break the company's monopoly? Christopher Thomas Scott investigates.

Metabolomic profiling provides clues at alterations in cellular biochemistry. Here, the authors perform metabolomics analyses on samples from the Framingham Heart Study, and a Danish validation cohort, to identify small-molecule biomarkers prospectively associated with longevity or ageing.

In a GWAS study of 32,438 adults, the authors discovered five novel loci for intracranial volume and confirmed two known signals. Variants for intracranial volume were also related to childhood and adult cognitive function and to Parkinson's disease, and enriched near genes involved in growth pathways, including PI3K-AKT signaling.

The combination of laboratory and semifield experiments, paired with surveillance data, demonstrate the natural timeline for mosquito diapause, highlighting the importance of latitude and population genetics.

Two exoplanets of Earth’s size have been discovered in orbit around the star Kepler-20.

The hippocampus in mammalian brain varies in size across individuals. Here, Hibar and colleagues perform a genome-wide association meta-analysis to find six genetic loci with significant association to hippocampus volume.

A new generation of commercial entities is beginning to explore opportunities for new types of interventions and services in a graying world.

Analyses of single-cell whole-genome sequencing data show that somatic mutations are increased in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease compared to neurotypical individuals, with a pattern of genomic damage distinct from that of normal ageing.

Mantle cell lymphoma can be refractory to treatment. Here, the authors used single cell sequencing to study the tumours of patients that were responsive and resistant to treatment and find gains of 17q in resistant tumours, which they attribute to increased expression of Birc5 and validate these findings in mouse models of the disease.

The mechanisms that allow cancer cells to survive with monosomies are poorly understood. Here the authors analyse p53-deficient monosomic cell lines using transcriptomics and proteomics, and find that impaired ribosome biogenesis and p53 downregulation are associated with sustained monosomies.

Rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu contain some of the molecular building blocks of life on Earth, such as amino acids and nucleobases. They also carry ammonia that formed billions of years ago in cold, distant regions of our Solar System.

Deep-space exploration missions require new technologies that can support astronaut health systems as well as biological monitoring and research systems that can function independently from Earth-based mission control centres. A NASA workshop explored how artificial intelligence advances could help address these challenges and, in this first of two Review articles based on the findings from the workshop, a vision for autonomous biomonitoring and precision space health is discussed.

Shape memory materials are capable of returning to their original form post-deformation, but those with high actuation performances remain scarce. Here the authors reveal that CaFe₂As₂ exhibits cryogenic linear shape memory behaviour with high recoverable strain and yield strength, owing to a reversible uni-axial phase transformation.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great potential for modelling human developmental processes and diseases. Here the authors induce human iPSCs to spontaneously form fully laminated three-dimensional retinal tissue containing functional photoreceptor cells.

The current ‘second space age’ has enabled multiple studies on the effects of spaceflight on human physiology and health, which are contributing to the development of measures that will be needed to maintain astronaut health in future space missions.

Stellar data from the Kepler spacecraft are used to infer the existence of a sub-Mercury-sized exoplanet, the smallest yet discovered, in orbit around a Sun-like star.

Tensor networks provide a powerful tool for understanding and improving quantum computing. This Technical Review discusses applications in simulation, circuit synthesis, error correction and mitigation, and quantum machine learning.

Sequencing and genomic diversification of five allopolyploid cotton species provide insights into polyploid genome evolution and epigenetic landscapes for cotton improvement.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b underwent an explosive geographic expansion in 2021 among wild birds and domestic poultry. Here, Kandeil et al. show that the Western movement of this clade was followed by reassortment with viruses circulating in wild birds in North America which resulted in different genotypes exhibiting a wide range of disease severity in mammal models (mice, ferrets, chicken) ranging from asymptomatic disease to severe neurological pathology.

Analysis of satellite stereo imagery uncovers two decades of mass change for all of Earth’s glaciers, revealing accelerated glacier shrinkage and regionally contrasting changes consistent with decadal climate variability.

The SPECULOOS project detected an Earth-sized planet in a short orbit around a nearby Jupiter-sized star. This planet, SPECULOOS-3 b, is one of the most promising rocky exoplanets for detailed emission spectroscopy characterization with JWST.

Here the authors profile skin microenvironment changes in response to spaceflight by performing a multi omics analysis using skin punch biopsies from the crew members of SpaceX Inspiration4 mission comparing before, post launch and one day after return 91 of the 3-day mission.

Does self-administered mindfulness effectively reduce stress? In a study across 37 sites involving 2,239 participants, four mindfulness exercises significantly reduced short-term, self-reported stress.

The transits of two Sun-like stars by small planets in an open star cluster are reported; such a stellar environment is unlike that of most planet-hosting field stars, and suggests that the occurrence of planets is unaffected by the stellar environment in open clusters.

Rare earth elements are essential to electrified infrastructure and clean energy production. Here, authors show reagent- and energy-efficient separation of lanthanides from secondary feedstock using dimethyl ether-driven fractional crystallization.

This study presents the assembly and analysis of the genome sequence of a female domestic Duroc pig and a comparison with the genomes of wild and domestic pigs from Europe and Asia; the results shed light on the evolutionary relationship between European and Asian wild boars.

Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, the authors perform GWAS of the serum lipidome to identify variants associated with lipid species that are putatively in the mechanistic pathway to CAD.

The genome sequence of segmental allotetraploid peanut suggests that diversity generated by genetic deletions and homeologous recombination helped to favor the domestication of Arachis hypogaea over its diploid relatives.

The onset and pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with changes to lipid metabolism. Here, the authors analysed 569 lipids from 32 classes and subclasses in two independent patient cohorts to identify key lipid pathways to link the plasma lipidome with AD and the future onset of AD.

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are a common brain-imaging feature of cerebral small vessel disease. Here, the authors carry out a GWAS and followup analyses for WMH-volume, implicating several variants with potential for risk stratification and drug targeting.

Deep space exploration missions will require new technologies that can support astronaut health systems, as well as biological monitoring and research systems that can function independently from Earth-based mission control centres. A NASA workshop explored how artificial intelligence advances could help address these challenges and, in this second of two Review articles based on the findings from the workshop, the intersection between artificial intelligence and space biology is discussed.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptors are single pass transmembrane serine/threonine kinases that form tetrameric complexes comprised of two type I and two type II BMP receptors. Here the authors characterize a structure of an active type I/type II kinase tetramer providing insight into molecular mechanism driving ligand-induced signaling.

Remotely sensed NDVI data and contemporary field data from 84 grasslands on 6 continents show increasing divergence in aboveground plant biomass between sites in different bioclimatic regions.

To achieve net-zero carbon emissions, we must close the carbon cycle for industries that are difficult to electrify. Developing the needed science to provide carbon alternatives and non-fossil carbon will accelerate advances towards defossilization.