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The PhenoSphere is a unique plant cultivation facility in which field-like environments can be simulated. Here, the authors find that a single season simulation is superior to an averaged season and to a climatized glasshouse cultivation to elicit field-like phenotypes evaluated in 11 maize lines.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 also reduced incidence of respiratory pathogens such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Here, the authors report the resurgence of RSV in Australia following lifting of some of the restrictions and describe reduction in genetic diversity in circulating clades.

Black carbon in the Arctic has pronounced climatic effects, whilst residing in the atmosphere or after being deposited. Here long-term observations of black carbon inside Arctic clouds are used to study their seasonality, sources and links to other meteorological parameters.

Primary bioaerosols, important for clouds and climate, were measured at an Arctic mountain site and traced to regional sources. Their seasonality was observed to peak in summer, where they significantly contribute to high-temperature ice nucleating particles.

Climate mitigation through natural climate solutions in crop-lands may be a way to reconcile climate goals with food security. However, here the authors show that some natural climate solution practices tend to lower yields and that maintaining yields lowers the potential GHG mitigation.

This study reports on excavations of hearths and stone artefacts from 20,000-year-old deposits at Dargan Shelter, which at an elevation of 1,073 m is believed to be the oldest occupied high-altitude site in Australia.

The strength of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds varied throughout the Holocene, according to a reconstruction from lake sediments, with periods of stronger winds coincident with higher atmospheric CO₂ levels.

Possible effects of weather conditions on COVID-19 transmission are debated. Here, the authors analyse data from early in the pandemic and show that although temperature and humidity had small effects on transmission, they were far out-weighed by the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions.

An in vitro kinase assay for quantification of site-specific substrate phosphorylation allows identification of kinase-kinase dependencies.

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).

Analyses of satellite observations from 1986 to 2021 suggest that the Antarctic Peninsula is greening at an accelerated rate.

The flammability and toxicity of the currently used electrolytes are the concerns that must be addressed. Here the authors show a non-fluorinated and non-toxic ionomeric aqueous gel electrolyte called water-in-ionomer that allows an enlargement of electrochemical stability window and design of environmentally friendly battery cell chemistries.

This study reveals that population aging intensifies heat- and cold-related deaths, more so than climate change, in 50 countries. At 1.53 °C global warming, aging contributes to rising heat-related deaths, offsetting declines in cold related death.

A study of the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in England between September 2020 and June 2021 finds that interventions capable of containing previous variants were insufficient to stop the more transmissible Alpha and Delta variants.

There is a need for accurate models to predict disease dynamics by considering the interactions between environment and vector traits. This study finds that incorporating delayed phenotypic plasticity in mosquito traits significantly enhances the accuracy of dengue risk predictions.

An interrupted time series analysis of 31 healthcare services in ten low-income, middle-income and high-income countries demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic caused immediate, heterogeneous and prolonged disruptions in service delivery, highlighting the need for health system resilience in pandemic preparedness.

The Southern Hemisphere westerly winds affect the exchange of carbon dioxide between the ocean and atmosphere. Climate reconstructions from the southern mid-latitudes may reveal variability in the strength and position of the wind belt since the Last Glacial Maximum.

Protein complexes play a decisive role for lysosomal function. Here, the authors use cross-linking mass spectrometry and integrative modeling to investigate lysosomes and early endosomes; characterizing protein interactions, structures, and the cargo of flotillin-mediated endocytosis.

Bringing history to life.

The degradation of inner autophagosomal membranes remains poorly understood. Here, Makar et al. show that RNAseK is involved in a lysosomal hydrolase delivery pathway that contributes to autophagosomal membrane degradation.

A large portion of the transcribed genome—such as introns and noncoding RNAs—is believed to not be translated into protein products. Here, the authors provide evidence for the existence of regulated peptide products that are translated from transcribed sequences generally characterized as noncoding.

Human and livestock excreta are rich sources of important agricultural nutrients, but are currently poorly utilized. Recycling these resources can help close the gap where mineral fertilizers are insufficient.

Warm ocean waters and favourable bathymetry caused Cadman Glacier on the Antarctic Peninsula to increase speed by 94% from 2018 to 2019. This led to increased ice discharge, glacier retreat of 8 kilometres, and glacier thinning by 20 meters per year.

Southern Hemisphere Westerlies were poleward of their current position during the Early Holocene, as suggested by diatom-inferred sea salt aerosol and lake sediment geochemistry from Cape Horn.

The mitochondrial ATP synthase produces the bulk of cellular ATP. Here, the authors report a function of the mitochondrial Hsp70 in the formation of the catalytical head and in its assembly with the peripheral stalk to form the mature ATP synthase.

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

Changes in penguin populations on the Antarctic Peninsula in recent decades have been linked to environmental factors such as sea ice. Here, the authors show that penguin colony change on Ardley Island, NW Antarctic Peninsula during the last 8,500 years was primarily driven by volcanic activity.

The glaciated history of South Georgia is debated, with many suggesting a coastal limit to the island’s ice cap during the last glaciation. Here, the authors show extensive ice-cap cover of the continental block during this time and a readvance of glaciers to fjord mouths during the Antarctic Cold Reversal.

Whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome-wide association and fine-mapping analyses in over 7,000 individuals with critical COVID-19 are used to identify 16 independent variants that are associated with severe illness in COVID-19.

Mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs) transfer mitochondrial content to lysosomes and peroxisomes. A study now reveals that MDVs deliver β-barrel proteins and fully assembled mitochondrial complexes for lysosomal degradation, establishing an important role for MDVs in mitochondrial protein quality control.

Warmer periods correspond with poleward migration of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds over the past 700 years and vice versa, according to multi-proxy records from a lake sediment core on sub-Antarctic Marion Island.

Griess et al. determine the lipid signatures of pancreatic islets in type 2 diabetes models. They define a lipid environment linking the endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi transport protein Tmed2 to the proinsulin processing enzyme Pcsk1 to ensure insulin production.

Rechargeable Li metal batteries are currently limited by electrolyte decomposition and rapid Li consumption. Li plating and stripping greatly depend on the solid electrolyte interphase formed at the Li metal–liquid electrolyte interface. This Review discusses the reactions occurring at this interface from a corrosion science perspective, highlighting the requirements for an ideal passivation layer.