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Here, the authors exploit the genetic information encoded in Klebsiella prophages to model the interplay between bacteria, prophages, and their depolymerases, using a directed acyclic graph-model and a sequence clustering-based model.

The Zika viral protease NS2B-NS3 is a crucial target for antiviral drug development due to its role in processing viral polyproteins. Here, the authors utilize crystallographic fragment screening and deep mutational scanning to identify binding sites for resistance-resilient inhibitors.

Polymer thin films that emit and absorb circularly polarised light are promising in achieving important technological advances, but the origin of the large chiroptical effects in such films has remained elusive. Here the authors demonstrate that in non-aligned polymer thin films, large chiroptical effects are caused by magneto-electric coupling, not structural chirality as previously assumed.

Here, the authors perform metagenomic analysis of honeybee gut microbes, uncovering many previously unidentified species and host specific differences in composition and function, highlighting the dynamic evolution of specialized microbiota in these ecologically vital pollinators.

Selecting for varieties of commercial crops with enhanced nutritional quality is important in agriculture. Here, the authors identify alleles of a gene in tomatoes that give rise to increased levels of vitamin E and find that the promoter of the gene is differentially methylated.

Analysis combining multiple global tree databases reveals that whether a location is invaded by non-native tree species depends on anthropogenic factors, but the severity of the invasion depends on the native species diversity.

Developing high-current-density catalysts is key to efficient water splitting. Here, the authors report a single-atom Ru-doped amorphous Ni–Mo oxide that dynamically self-reconstructs to retain high activity at industrial current densities in an anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer.

GBA, a major gene for Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, is associated with increased risk of developing dementia. Here, we demonstrate that GBA mutations in mice contribute to cognitive deficits through α-synuclein-independent mechanisms that impact synaptic vesicle endocytosis.

A complementary analysis of DESI DR2 distance measurements along with supernova and CMB data shows consistent, moderate evidence that dark energy changes over time rather than behaving as a simple cosmological constant.

Mechanisms for generating spin-polarized currents may be helpful for applications. Now one such mechanism that uses the unusual Landau-level spectrum of WSe₂ under a strong magnetic field is demonstrated.

Adherent-invasive strains of E. coli are commonly isolated from patients with Crohn’s disease. Here, the authors show that an AIEC harbours a hybrid Type IV secretion system (T4SS) that mediates pilin polymerization and biofilm formation in vivo.

Electrocatalytic co-reduction of CO₂ and nitrate to synthesize urea is a sustainable and promising option to the alternative conventional Bosch-Meiser. Here, the authors report a CeO_x-integrated diatomic electrocatalyst overcomes the traditional trade-off between urea yield and Faradaic efficiency.

Hypothalamus is implicated in memory disorders but the neural mechanisms are unknown. Here, the authors report that MCH expressing hypothalamic neurons respond to novel object exposure, are inhibited by local GAD65 expressing neurons and these local circuit interactions are causally involved in object memory formation.

Nimbus, a deep learning model, uses a large multiplexed imaging dataset to predict the likelihood of marker positivity in single cells.

Realizing >5 V batteries is hindered by the instability of electrolytes. Here, a fluoride shielding layer, LiCl-4Li₂TiF₆, enables high-voltage, high-capacity all-solid-state batteries because of its combined oxidative stability and Li⁺ conductivity.

Enterololin is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that selectively kills Enterobacteriaceae in vitro and in a mouse model of adherent-invasive Escherichia coli gut infection. AI-guided mechanism-of-action studies identified LolCDE as its molecular target.

A systematic statistical genetics approach discovers CES drivers as hotspots of human de novo mutation and shows that clonal expansions in germline may both modulate the prevalence of disorders and lead to false-positive disease associations.

This study reveals that graded expression of the transcription factor BRN3B fine-tunes the identity and function of melanopsin-expressing ipRGC subtypes in the retina. Altering BRN3B levels disrupts subtype-specific features and visual behaviour.

This study examines the outcomes of dietary shifts across intrinsic and instrumental conservation perspectives, finding that most conservation benefits already come from a partial shift to healthier, more plant-based diets, whereas greater benefits depend on more targeted conservation action.

Polygenic risk scores can help identify individuals at higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Here, the authors characterise a multi-ancestry score across nearly 900,000 people, showing that its predictive value depends on demographic and clinical context and extends to related traits and complications.

This study presents a programming strategy for the two-dimensional folding of a robotic sheet into an unbounded set of hinge configurations post-deployment, enabling in situ multi-purpose tasks with applications in dexterous grasping and adaptive locomotion.

Understanding how local distortions affect the functional properties of high entropy materials remains an open challenge. This work found element-specific distortions beyond nearest neighbors and a flexible cationic sublattice in spinel oxides, linking mean-field magnetism to bond lengths.

2023 CX1 is the only L-chondrite-like asteroid analysed from space to ground. It catastrophically fragmented in the atmosphere, depositing 98% of its energy in one burst—an unusual, high-risk fragmentation mode with implications for planetary defence.

A phase 3 trial found that VER-01, a full-spectrum cannabis extract, reduces chronic low back pain, improves physical function and sleep and shows no signs of dependence or withdrawal.

How musical expertise impacts the brain’s processing of complex musical information remains unclear. Using generative music models, this study reveals that musicians display enhanced disentangled and contextual neural encoding of music.

Developing efficient catalysts that resolve the activity-stability trade-off remains challenging for hydrogen production. Here, the authors report a steam-assisted, machine-learning-screened synthesis of self-healing Ru/TiMnO_x electrodes that resolve this challenge.

When senescent cells accumulate during adulthood they negatively influence lifespan and promote age-dependent changes in several organs; clearance of these cells delayed tumorigenesis in mice and attenuated age-related deterioration of several organs without overt side effects, suggesting that the therapeutic removal of senescent cells may be able to extend healthy lifespan.

The dynamics of hole-conjugated fractional quantum Hall states is poorly understood due to the limitations of current experimental probes. Here the authors study the high-frequency dynamics of edge modes at filling factor 2/3, precisely identifying the tunneling charge and damping of constituent charge modes.

One of the factors hindering the biomedical applications of bioinspired magnetic nanochains is the need for alternative synthetic strategies and analytical methods to evaluate chain formation under magnetic fields. Here, the authors present both an environmentally friendly approach to synthesize cobalt-doped ferrite nanoparticles via the hydrothermal conversion of core-shell nanorods, and study their chain arrangements in different directions to the magnetic field.

The detection of the auroral footprint of Jupiter’s moon Callisto is challenging, but a shift in Jupiter’s bright main auroral oval could provide an opportunity for potential detections. Here, the authors show observation of the ultraviolet footprint of Callisto using Juno spacecraft data, benefiting from such opportunity.

An operational satellite-based monitoring system using NASA/USGS and ESA imagery enables rapid tracking of global land change, with the area of conversion due to direct human action and fire equaling the size of California in 2023.

Membrane-free complex coacervate microdroplets are compelling models for primitive compartmentalization, but it is unclear how molecular co-operativity influences physicochemical properties and activity of membrane-free compartments. Here, the authors use RNA/peptide coacervates as a model to reveal the relationship between coacervate properties and ribozyme activity.

During plant cultivation, denitrification process can release greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O) to atmosphere. Here, the authors develop a soybean–bradyrhizobial symbiosis system with enhanced capacity to reduce N₂O emissions using the incompatibility between two soybean R genes and their effector present in bradyrhizobia.

All-solid-state batteries face complex chemo-mechanical degradation. Here, authors reveal how interfacial chemical reactions in Ni-rich oxides govern reaction dynamics and microstructural changes and unveil that coatings enhance uniformity and durability.

A purpose-built implantable system based on biomimetic epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord reduces the severity of hypotensive complications in people with spinal cord injury and improves quality of life.

Viruses such as coxsackievirus B (CVB) have been associated with type I diabetes (T1D) and islet destruction. Here the authors show that Yes-associated protein (YAP) is upregulated in the whole pancreas in T1D and at-risk autoantibody (AAb + ) organ donors and that YAP over-expression enhances CVB replication, islet inflammation and β-cell apoptosis and suggest exocrine-islet-immune interactions as targeted interventions for T1D.

Exercise promotes recovery after stroke, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, the authors show that regulatory T cells enable exercise-induced repair by reducing neuronal hyperexcitability via interleukin-10, linking immunity to functional regeneration.

Functional roles of the parvicellular part of the ventral posteromedial nucleus/gustatory thalamus are not fully understood. Here authors found that gustatory thalamus mediates aversive behaviors and responds to noxious stimuli and fear memory. Gustatory thalamus receives input from the parabrachial nucleus and innervates neurons in the insular cortex and rostral lateral amygdala.

A significant challenge in modern drug development is the comprehensive profiling of covalent inhibitors. Here, the authors develop COOKIE-Pro, an unbiased method for quantifying the binding kinetics of irreversible covalent inhibitors on a proteome-wide scale.

Up-recycling waste wood as a source for producing materials is crucial for sustainability. Here, the authors discover that in situ thermal curing of melamine formaldehyde resin with natural wood enhanced its room temperature phosphorescence performance.

How the brain creates compositional cognitive maps that support both flexible and efficient planning remains poorly understood. Here, authors propose a biologically-realistic computational model addressing this question, which reproduces response fields across cells in the medial entorhinal cortex.

Construction of chiral nanostructures is impeded by the entropic barrier of dissymmetric blocks. Here, the authors report a dynamic assembly/disassembly strategy to yield single-unit organometallic helices for enantioselective amyloid inhibition.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) frequency and risk factors vary considerably across regions and ancestries. Here, the authors conduct a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study and fine mapping study of HNSCC subsites in cohorts from multiple continents, finding susceptibility and protective loci, gene-environment interactions, and gene variants related to immune response.

The microbiomes associated with reef corals are complex and diverse. Here, the authors investigate fire coral clones naturally occurring in distinct habitats as a model system to disentangle the contribution of host genotype and environment on their microbiome, and predict genomic functions based on taxonomic profiles.

An optical sieve—an array of optically resonant voids in gallium arsenide—enables sorting, detecting and counting nanoplastics as small as a few hundreds of nanometres at concentrations as low as 150 μg ml⁻¹ in lake water samples.