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Bacteria can swim upstream by reorienting with respect to fluid flows. Here, the authors observe an oscillatory motion and describe the mechanisms behind these reorientation dynamics, which could help designing strategies for bacterial contamination prevention.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is characterized by EWSR1/ETS gene rearrangements with unknown cellular origin. Here, authors show that expressing the EWS::FLI1 oncogene in human embryonic mesenchymal stem cells induces an Ewing sarcoma-like transcriptome and forms tumors in mice.

Modern sperm whales have relatively small teeth and feed by suction, but the discovery of large teeth in the fossil record suggests that raptorial sperm whales once existed. Here the authors report the discovery of the teeth and jaws of a fossil raptorial sperm whale from the Middle Miocene of Peru, almost as large as a modern sperm whale but with a three-metre head and jaws full of teeth, some 36cm long.

The joint analysis of datasets from NOvA and T2K, the two currently operating long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, provides new constraints related to neutrino masses and fundamental symmetries.

Thick, adherent mucus in the airway causes respiratory failure—the leading cause of death in cystic fibrosis. A new study now shows how the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the airway, in an attempt to kill colonizing bacteria, results in chronic cell carnage that thickens the sputum, worsening lung function in individuals with cystic fibrosis (pages 1018–1023).

Chronic alcohol use in humans and mice downregulates small intestinal mAChR4 and reduces goblet-cell-associated antigen passage formation, disrupting antimicrobial immunity.

Trihydrogen cations are abundant in interstellar space and play a vital role in both star and organic molecule formation. Now it has been shown that D₃⁺ cations can be directly produced through photoionization of molecular D₂–D₂ dimers.

Most Amazon tree species are rare but a small proportion are common across the region. The authors show that different species are hyperdominant in different size classes and that hyperdominance is more phylogenetically restricted for larger canopy trees than for smaller understory ones.

This flagship study from the European Solve-Rare Diseases Consortium presents a diagnostic framework including bioinformatic analysis of clinical, pedigree and genomic data coupled with expert panel review, leading to 500 new diagnoses in a cohort of 6,000 families with suspected rare diseases.

Allergic inflammation is linked to asthma immunopathology and disease onset. Here the authors explore the use of a mucosal vaccine and show reduced immunopathology and asthma prevention in a murine model of allergic airway disease.

Female genital tract (FGT) microbiome dynamics in discordant HIV shedding and long-term antiretroviral therapy are poorly understood. Here, using 125 cervicovaginal specimens collected over two years from 31 women living with HIV in Lima, Peru, Kaelin et al. show that FGT bacteriome and virome patterns over time are linked with discordant shedding and ART duration.

Palaeoproteomics offers an opportunity to resolve molecular phylogenies especially in contexts where ancient DNA does not preserve. Here collagen sequences resolve sloth phylogenies differently from morphology-based estimates, illuminating the utility of proteomics in systematics.

Despite concern among racially minoritized groups about environmental impacts within their communities, students of colour remain underrepresented in environmental science degree programmes in the United States and Europe. This study examines the experiences of students of colour to illuminate pathways to racial equity in the pursuit of sustainability.

A conserved network of bacteria and fungi underpins cadaver decomposition despite selection effects of location, climate and season.

DNA double strand break repair pathways ensure genome stability and prevent disease. Here the authors show that the actin nucleating factor DIAPH1 and γ-actin promote homologous recombination (HR)-dependent repair. Inherited mutations in DIAPH1 or ACTG1 give rise to clinical deficits similar to those associated with defective HR.

Embryos at the 2-cell (2C) stage are totipotent, and overexpression of Dux transcription factor convert embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to a 2C-like state. Here the authors show that DUX-mediated 2C-like reprogramming is associated with DNA damage at CTCF sites and CTCF depletion promotes 2Clike conversion.

The significance of biofluorescence across taxonomic groups is understudied. Here the authors document biofluorescence in South American tropical amphibians, suggesting that biofluorescence corresponds with wavelengths of light at twilight and may be used in communication.

The origin of Tibetan barley (qingke) has been a controversial issue for many years. Here, the authors conduct population genomics study to support that qingke is derived from eastern domesticated barley instead of Tibetan wild barley and suggest southern Tibetan Plateau as its introduction route.

MultiSTAAR provides a general and flexible statistical framework for functionally informed multi-trait rare variant analysis of biobank-scale sequencing studies by jointly analyzing multiple traits and incorporating annotation information.

Wood density is an important plant trait. Data from 1.1 million forest inventory plots and 10,703 tree species show a latitudinal gradient in wood density, with temperature and soil moisture explaining variation at the global scale and disturbance also having a role at the local level.

To consider the impact of sex on adaptation to space, the European Space Agency initiated VIVALDI dry immersion microgravity simulation in female subjects. Here, the authors show marked deconditioning with 5-day exposure, and propose comprehensive multi-system physiological assessment in 18 healthy women.

Whole-genome sequencing and mutational signature analysis of 265 head and neck cancer samples collected from eight different countries provide insight into the vital contribution of tobacco smoke in disease etiology.

The replicative helicase CMG is targeted for removal or proteolysis by the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAIP. This study describes how the de-ubiquitylating enzyme USP37 protects genome stability by preventing premature TRAIP-dependent CMG unloading when replication stress impedes timely termination.

Photoactivable toxins targeting ion channels have great potential to control cell activity. Here the authors report HwTxIV-Nvoc, a UV light-cleavable and photoactivatable peptide that targets voltage-gated sodium channels; they validate this in cells, brain slices and in vivo on mice neuromuscular junctions.

G_i/o protein-coupled receptors (G_i/o-GPCRs) limit β-cell insulin secretion by decreasing Ca²⁺ entry; however, the underlying mechanism has not been identified. Here, the authors show that G_i/o-GPCRs hyperpolarize mouse and human β-cell membrane potential by activating Na⁺/K⁺ATPases.

Here, Valderrama et al., introduced ‘saMBA’, the largest collection of uniformly analyzed microbiome data from South America, the worlds most biodiverse yet less characterized region. The article propels inclusion and can guide new sampling efforts in the region.

The transfer of nuclear chromatin to the cytoplasm drives the pro-aging inflammatory phenotype of senescent cells. Here, Miller et al. show that this process is suppressed by p53 and that activation of p53 reverses some features of aging in vivo.

The dynamics of antimicrobial resistance gene transfer remain unclear. Here, by integrating bacterial genome and metagenome data with machine learning the authors show that genetic incompatibility is a main limiting factor, while co-occurrence of bacteria in the human microbiome and wastewater contributes to gene transfer.

Petroni et al. report that the infiltration of IL-17A-secreting γδ T cells in the tumor microenvironment coupled with the accumulation of immunosuppressive macrophages is associated with resistance to CDK4/CDK6 inhibition in HR⁺HER2⁻ breast cancer.

The response to infectious and inflammatory challenges differs among people but the reasons for this are poorly understood. Here the authors explore the impact of variables such as age, sex, and the capacity for controlling inflammation and maintaining immunocompetence, linking this capacity to favourable health outcomes and lifespan.

A Homo aff. erectus individual dated to 1.4 million to 1.1 million years ago found at Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) does not display the modern-human-like aspect of Homo antecessor found at the neighbouring Gran Dolina site (900,000–800,000 years ago).

Samples returned from asteroid Bennu largely comprise hydrated sheet silicates with sulfides, magnetite and carbonate that indicate alteration by a fluid that evolved from neutral to alkaline, according to a micro- and nanoscale mineralogical study.

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.

Quantum magnetometry in the solid state is usually affected by short coherence times and control errors that limit the sensitivity. This work demonstrates a continuous-driving scheme based on composite pulses that improves both these shortcomings and can be used in variable sensing environments.

A high-resolution, global atlas of mortality of children under five years of age between 2000 and 2017 highlights subnational geographical inequalities in the distribution, rates and absolute counts of child deaths by age.

Analyses of genome and exome sequencing data identify rare coding and structural variants associated with atrial fibrillation and highlight genetic links between atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathies.

Light-sensitive proteins are useful tools to control protein localization and gene expression, but are currently limited to excitation with red or blue light. Here Crefcoeur et al. present a novel optogenetic system to induce protein–protein interactions with ultraviolet-B light that does not require exogenous chromophores.

Wood density is a key control on tree biomass, and understanding its spatial variation improves estimates of forest carbon stock. Sullivan et al. measure >900 forest plots to quantify wood density and produce high resolution maps of its variation across South American tropical forests.

A single-cell transcriptomic analysis of endometriosis, endometriomas, eutopic endometrial samples and uninvolved ovary tissues highlights cell populations characteristic of these tissue types. Transcriptional and cellular heterogeneity across tissues suggests novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for this disease.