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Aperiodic composite crystals were discovered that emulate 2D moiré materials, demonstrating a potentially scalable approach for producing moiré materials for next-generation electronics and a generalizable approach for realizing theoretical predictions of higher-dimensional quantum phenomena.

Spatiotemporal insight into photoactivation of the prototypical B₁₂ photoreceptor CarH is revealed across nine orders of magnitude in time, identifying a transient adduct that distinguishes it from thermally activated B₁₂ enzymes.

Endosomal sequestration of lipid-based nanoparticles is a barrier to delivery of nucleic acids. Here the authors test an array of cholesterol variants and perform in-depth investigation of nanoparticle shape, internal structure and intracellular trafficking.

Thermal barrier coatings increase the temperature at which jet engines can function, but are subjected to large mechanical forces during service. Here, the authors use synchrotron X-ray diffraction to quantify strain at different depths in a thermal barrier coating subjected to thermal gradients and mechanical load.

Free electron lasers are emerging as important tools for nonlinear spectroscopy in the X-ray regime. Here the authors demonstrate the second order coherence of a seeded FEL source that may be useful for measurements in quantum optics.

In situ spectroscopic analysis of operating solid oxide electrochemical cells has proved to be difficult owing to high-vacuum requirements. Ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on single-chamber cells now suggests that surface reaction kinetics and electron transport on the electrodes are co-limiting processes.

Identifying atomic defects during deformation is crucial to understand material response but remains challenging in three dimensions. Here, the authors couple X-ray Bragg coherent diffraction imaging and atomistic simulations to correlate a strain field to a screw dislocation in a single copper grain.

The number of K⁺ occupied binding sites in the selectivity filter of potassium ion channels is still under debate. Here, the authors collect diffraction data on the K⁺ selective NaK channel NaK2K at a wavelength of 3.35 Å, close to the K absorption edge, revealing that all four binding sites in the selectivity filter are fully occupied by K⁺ ions.

Native top-down proteomics reveals epidermal growth factor receptor–estrogen receptor-alpha (EGFR–ER) signaling crosstalk in breast cancer cells and dissociation of nuclear transport factor 2 (NUTF2) dimers to modulate ER signaling and cell growth.

Conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1) can boost the precursor exhausted T cell population thought to be essential for efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy. Here the authors enhance this cellular network using Flt3L to expand cDC1s and then map the movement of T cells and DCs between tumors and lymph nodes.

Oriented growth is an important pathway for crystal growth. Here, the authors show that gibbsite nanoplates form mesocrystals through directed sliding and staggered stacking, as demonstrated by in situ microscopy and molecular simulations.

Observation of the chemical and conformational dynamics of biomolecules by diffraction methods is impeded by several physical artifacts. The authors present an extensible framework for accurate correction of such data that can keep pace with rapid developments in diffraction methods.

The X-ray crystal structure of the Drosophila dopamine transporter bound to the antidepressant drug nortriptyline is presented, providing the first crystal structure of a eukaryotic neurotransmitter sodium symporter.

Here the authors report the synthesis of defect-rich boron nitride by flux reconstruction method, which exhibited good reactivity for semihydrogenation of low concentration acetylene in ethylene-abundant gas stream.

Analysis of the black hole low-mass X-ray binary V404 Cygni shows that it is part of a wide hierarchical triple whose configuration provides evidence that some black holes form with nearly no natal kick.  

Crystal structures of the Drosophila melanogaster dopamine transporter dDAT in complex with inhibitors reboxetine and nisoxetine shed light on the molecular basis of antidepressant selectivity and specificity.

Solid-state electrolytes may improve the performance of batteries; however, many are unstable towards metallic lithium, and little is known about the chemical evolution of the interfaces that form during cycling. Here, the authors use an operando method to map the formation and evolution of a solid-electrolyte interphase during cycling.

The J2 antibody is widely used for detecting double-stranded RNAs. Here, Bou-Nader et al. define its nucleic acid specificity and recognition mechanism by solving its co-crystal structure bound to dsRNA, establishing a framework for its reliable use in RNA detection.

The lowest-frequency gravitational wave background may be shaped by supermassive black hole binaries that scatter nearby stars or dark matter. In this case, the NANOGrav 15-year dataset favours dense galactic centres with 10⁶ solar masses per cubic parsec.

EGFR inhibitors are standard of care in patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but resistance often develops. Here the authors report that the evolution of EGFR inhibitor resistance in EGFR-mutant NSCLC results in a sensitivity to the compound, MCB-613, and investigate the underlying mechanism of action.

The authors demonstrate strain-induced morphotropic phase boundary-like nanodomains in lead-free NaNbO₃ thin films, enabling multi-state switching and large enhancements in dielectric susceptibility and tunability over a broad frequency range.

Although uranium-nitrogen multiple bonding is well developed, there are far fewer uranium-phosphorus and -arsenic multiple bonds, and none for antimony, even in spectroscopic scenarios. Here, the authors report syntheses of uranium-stibido, -stibinidiide, -distibene, and -stibinidene derivatives containing single, double, and pseudo-triple bond interactions.

Analysis of a chromosome-level bowfin genome assembly sheds light into neopterygian fish evolution. Chromatin accessibility and gene expression profiling provides insight into bowfin embryonic development.

Ionic liquid additives increase the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells, but their effect on perovskite crystallization remains unclear. Xu et al. provide mechanistic insights and demonstrate improved operational stability under continous illumination and 90 °C thermal stress.

Diorganozinc reagents (ZnR₂, e.g. R = Et, Ph, C₆F₅) are widely used as Lewis acid catalysts or Lewis base reagents, however, descriptors for predicting the influence of the R substituent are scarce. Here, by using liquid-phase X-ray spectroscopy, the authors have identified the geometric structures of diorganozincs in weakly coordinating solvents and then established Zn-specific descriptors to quantify the properties of their underlying Lewis acidity/basicity.

Guided by density functional theory, a commercially viable refractory alloy is developed, which exhibits excellent room-temperature ductility and strength, and high strength at elevated temperatures.

Bulk vanadium dioxide undergoes a metal–insulator transition near room temperature. It is now shown that by putting a thin layer of vanadium dioxide on a buffer, and varying the buffer’s thickness, the orbital occupancy in the metallic state and the transition temperature can be tuned.

Fischer carbenes are typically synthesized by addition of pyrophoric reagents to toxic metal carbonyls. Now access to α-siloxycarbenes from thioesters has been reported via reductive silylation of cobalt acyls, providing a platform to harness carbene reactivity from carboxylates via metal acyls and allowing several new reactions occur, including heterodimerization to acyloin-type products.

The [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement of allylic ethers is traditionally considered to proceed via formation and recombination of radical pairs. Now it has been shown that an alternative reaction cascade, involving initial enantioselective [2,3]-rearrangement followed by base-promoted anionic fragmentation–recombination that proceeds with high enantiospecificity, allows a catalytic enantioselective [1,2]-Wittig process.

Ramaglia and colleagues show that aberrant formation of B cell-rich lymphoid structures in the brain meninges is associated with high CXCL13:BAFF ratios. Inhibiting the kinase BTK reduces the lymphotoxin signaling needed to sustain such structures, lowers CXCL13:BAFF ratios and reduces cortical tissue injury.

Observations of multi-temperature stellar eruptions from EK Draconis reveal a solar-like yet complex view of stellar coronal mass ejections. Such frequent, powerful events on the young Sun may have shaped Earth’s early atmosphere.

Acetyl-CoA synthetases have been proposed as targets for development of new antimicrobial drugs. Here, Jezewski et al. identify isoxazole-based compounds with activity against the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, and describe their mechanism of action as inhibitors of fungal acetyl-CoA synthetases.

Antiferromagnets offer the potential for higher speed and density than ferromagnetic materials for spintronic devices. Here, Reimers et al study the domain structure of CuMnAs, demonstrating the role of defects in stabilizing the location and orientation of antiferromagnetic domain walls.

The authors achieve precise strain control of freestanding SrTiO₃ membranes, enabling reversible ferroelectric transition. In-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy unveils classical-to-quantum crossover in ferroelectric phase transition at low temperatures.

A millihertz frequency X-ray quasi-periodic oscillation has been observed near the innermost orbit of an actively accreting supermassive black hole and its frequency has evolved significantly over 2 years, a phenomenon that is difficult to explain with existing models.

AIRES (algorithmic iterative reticular synthesis) is an integrated cycle combining automated synthesis, image recognition, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and algorithmic decision-making to maximize the discovery of distinct crystal structures. Demonstrated on zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, AIRES offers a systematic and efficient blueprint for reticular synthesis, with broad implications for accelerating materials discovery.

Here, the authors present archaeology of the Namorotukunan site in Kenya’s Turkana Basin that demonstrates adaptive shifts in hominin tool-making behaviour spanning 300,000 years and increasing environmental variability. They contextualize these findings with paleoenvironmental proxies, dating, and geological descriptions.

Machine learning predicts Cu-Al electrocatalysts provide better efficiency and productivity than copper when using intermittent renewable electricity to convert carbon dioxide to useful chemicals and fuels.

The start-up of the new femtosecond hard X-ray laser facility in Stanford, the Linac Coherent Light Source, has brought high expectations for a new era for biological imaging. The intense, ultrashort X-ray pulses allow diffraction imaging of small structures before radiation damage occurs. This new capability is tested for the problem of structure determination from nanocrystals of macromolecules that cannot be grown in large crystals. Over three million diffraction patterns were collected from a stream of nanocrystals of the membrane protein complex photosystem I, which allowed the assembly of a three-dimensional data set for this protein, and proves the concept of this imaging technique.

Waveguides—often based on total internal reflection—underpin many photonic technologies, including fibre networks for broadband communications. Now a different type of waveguide based on physical diffusion in a scattering medium is demonstrated.

Oil repellency using polyfluoroalkyl substances are broadly applicable, though unfavorable due to high fluorine composition. Here the authors report a polydimethylsiloxane-based system using single CF₃ groups affording oil repellency with low fluorine composition.

This work introduces a passive method for capturing CO₂ directly in the solid form using a carbonate crystallizer. This system harnesses wind-driven evaporation to enable rapid CO₂ capture and carbonate crystallization. This method provides a simplified and scalable alternative to conventional air contactors, which require substantial capital investments.

A dual interfacial hydrogen-bond passivation strategy and a hybrid copper–iodide are used to fabricate deep-blue light-emitting diodes with excellent external quantum efficiency and lifetime.

Nanoscale patterning methods based on self-assembly promise to revolutionize the fabrication of high-tech devices, but suffer from a limited number of possible lattice symmetries. Here, the authors use a laser zone annealing technique to pattern block copolymers into any 2D mesh motif they desire.