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Genomes of nine brown algal species with different sex determination systems show that U/V sex chromosomes evolved 450–224 Ma and show remarkable conservation of genes within the sex-determining region despite independent expansions of the sex locus in each lineage.

CLPP-deficiency-driven mitochondrial dysfunction in brown adipose tissue leads to the accumulation of d-2-hydroxyglutarate, in turn promoting lipid-droplet enlargement by altering gene expression and epigenetically regulating nuclear stiffness.

Over 20 species of geographically and phylogenetically diverse bird species produce convergent whining vocalizations towards their respective brood parasites. Model presentation and playback experiments across multiple continents suggest that these learned calls provoke an innate response even among allopatric species.

Similar to other eukaryotes, brown algae exhibit transcriptome conservation that is consistent with the molecular hourglass model during differentiation in embryonic development.

Electrons and holes trapped in a molecular crystal couple to form excitons. Here, the authors use scanning tunnelling microscopy to inject current with submolecular precision into structural defects in solid C₆₀and demonstrate single photon emission from the excitons trapped there.

Engineering structurally and functionally complex synthetic cells remains a key challenge. Here DNA condensate synthetic cells combine phase separation and DNA nanostructures to reveal how switchable artificial cytoskeletons assemble in viscoelastic confinements. These cytoskeletons improve the mechanical properties of synthetic cells and enable stable mechano-interfaces with mammalian cells.

Truncated version of adenylyl cyclase 3 acts as a cold-induced rheostat during long-term brown adipose tissue activation.

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.

Different types of SETBP1 variants cause variable developmental syndromes with only partial clinical and functional overlaps. Here, the authors report that SETBP1 variants outside the degron region impair DNA-binding, transcription, and neuronal differentiation capacity and morphologies.

The 3D chromatin organisation of sex chromosomes within the nucleus remains elusive. This study determines the chromatin architecture of the brown alga Ectocarpus, linking sex-specific chromatin dynamics, histone modification and gene expression to the 3D structure of the U and V sex chromosomes.

Analysis of the cool brown dwarf Gliese 229 B suggests that it is actually a close binary of two less massive brown dwarfs, explaining its low luminosity and settling the conflict between theoretical predictions and measurements.

Children’s ability to generalize from episodic memories varies by both age and the level of abstraction. Here, the authors show that lower level generalization increasingly depends on episodic memory with age, whereas higher level generalization shows no such relationship.

Imposing shear flow on a cell layer induces an ordering transition. Now it is shown that an intermediate phase of ordering occurs driven by an interplay between cellular activity and the aligning field.

Arterial development is critical for proper blood flow, but the mechanisms mediating this process at the organ level remain unclear. Here, they show that a subpopulation of endothelial cells is important for formation of arterial endothelium in the intestine.

Analysis of gamete transcriptomes of sexual and asexual individuals of the brown alga Scytosiphon shows decay of female functions but no signature of relaxation of sexual antagonism in the evolution of asexual reproduction in this haploid sexual system.

A study of several longitudinal birth cohorts and cross-sectional cohorts finds only moderate overlap in genetic variants between autism that is diagnosed earlier and that diagnosed later, so they may represent aetiologically different conditions.

Structural insights into ultrafast Ca²⁺ transport by plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPases are provided, highlighting an essential role for PtdIns(4,5)P₂ dynamics.

Ubiquitination is a versatile modification system in eukaryotic cells. Here, the authors unveil that the ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 can modify drug-like small-molecule substrates, beyond proteins. This discovery may be harnessed to develop specific tool substrates or inhibitors of HECT-type ligases.

Manipulating the physical properties of solid matter using only photons is a major challenge in materials science. Here, the authors present the photochemistry occurring in a single crystal of a Mo(III) cyanide complex which undergoes a reversible breaking and reformation of dative bonds and spin state change upon exposure to visible light.

Augmin is essential for microtubule nucleation during cell division. This study reveals how the conserved calponin homology domain of the augmin subunit HAUS6 binds to microtubules to orient augmin for microtubule branching.

A nanoparticle-based microfluidic assay enables rapid sterility testing of biopharmaceuticals, such as those derived from human mesenchymal stem cells and T cells, by detecting microbial contamination within 18 h.

Here Schwämmle et al. develop CRISPR reporter screens to map transcription-factor-regulatory element interactions at the Xist locus, revealing a two-step mechanism integrating developmental and X-dosage signals to initiate X-chromosome inactivation.

Myeloperoxidase, a highly expressed neutrophil protein, disassembles nucleosomes, facilitating neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, and binds stably to NETs extracellularly.

Direct observations of silicate clouds in the atmosphere of the exoplanet YSES-1 c and the first circumplanetary disk silicate emission around its sibling planet YSES-1 b are reported.

Khetarpal et al. show that the metabolic regulator PGC-1α is essential in heart muscle cells for exercise-driven cardiac growth, and that suppression of the stress-induced myokine GDF15 is required to enable cardiomyocyte adaptations to training.

Brown adipose tissue is a promising target for the treatment of obesity with the potential to increase energy expenditure. Here, the authors use pharmacological and genetic approaches to block AXL receptor activation and show that its inhibition enhances brown adipocyte functionality and thermogenesis, leading to weight loss and metabolic improvements in mice.

Palaeogenomic data from four Late Pleistocene cave bears reveals that cave bears admixed with brown bears in the Pleistocene epoch, and despite cave bears going extinct during the Last Glacial Maximum, extant brown bears maintain a genomic contribution from cave bears.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis counteracts obesity and promotes metabolic health. The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the regulation of this process is not well understood. Here the authors identify a maternally expressed lncRNA, H19, that increases BAT oxidative metabolism and energy expenditure.

Here, the authors present mtDNA and chronological data for sediments from excavations in the South Chamber of Denisova Cave, from which they construct a timeline of hominin and faunal occupation that fills stratigraphic gaps in other parts of the cave.

Systematic characterization of Arabidopsis aminotransferase family enzymes uncovered many previously unrecognized activities and revealed their multi-substrate specificity, aspects that probably contribute to the robustness of the nitrogen metabolic network.

Observations from the JWST MIRI showed the detection of ¹⁴NH₃ and ¹⁵NH₃ isotopologues in the atmosphere of a cool brown dwarf, along with a ¹⁴N/¹⁵N value consistent with star-like formation by gravitational collapse.

Sirtuins have been reported to positively regulate brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. Here the authors report that brown adipocytic SIRT7 suppresses whole-body energy expenditure and thermogenesis in mice, potentially by attenuating batokine gene expressions and Ucp1 mRNA translation.

UTe₂ is a proposed intrinsic topological superconductor, but its quasiparticle surface band has not yet been visualized. Now this is achieved using quasiparticle interference imaging, revealing the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter.

Brown fat can dissipate energy as heat and has an important role in energy homoeostasis of rodents and possibly humans. Chenet al. show that microRNA 155 regulates the differentiation of brown adipocytes as well as the 'browning' of white fat cells in mice.

Heavier analogues of unsaturated organic molecules are of interest because of their bonding situation and their potential use in synthesis. Now, a Bi(I)-based allyl cation, which can be seen as a heavy congener of all-carbon π-allyl cations, has been reported. This complex serves as a synthon for Bi(I) transfer, enabling access to low-valent organobismuth compounds.

ALMA telescope observations over a 7-year period have ‘filmed’ spiral arms winding in a protoplanetary disk. This motion is a hallmark of gravitational instability, a theory that suggests how giant planets might form far from their host stars.

Multicellular species of animals and plants differ in form but look similar when their body plan is established — described as an hourglass-like pattern of development. Independently evolved brown algae develop this way, too.

A neutralizing nanobody specific to the prefusion conformation of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B has cross-species activity and offers insights into virus neutralization, possible immunogens and an attractive avenue for antiviral interventions.

Kornfeld and colleagues identify miRNAs that are dysregulated in brown adipose tissue in mouse models of obesity and ageing, and show that miR-328 targets Bace1 to promote brown adipogenesis.

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.

Hanbury Brown and Twiss measurements on speckle patterns propagating along curved surfaces improve understanding of spatial coherence.

A super-pangenome analysis incorporating 123 newly sequenced bryophyte genomes reveals that bryophytes exhibit a larger number of unique and lineage-specific gene families than vascular plants.

Insights to elucidate the composition–behaviour relationship in organic photovoltaic materials are required. Here the phase behaviour of disordered polymer:small-molecule acceptor blends is studied and an extended model is invoked to understand the temperature–composition diagrams.

While most biological and biomimetic mixed-valent [2Fe-2S]⁺ clusters exhibit a S = 1/2 ground spin state, substitutions with Se and Te significantly perturb the electronic structure and yield clear S = 3/2 spin state signatures. Here, the authors probe the vibrational dynamics of the Fe and Te centers using ⁵⁷Fe and ¹²⁵Te nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

The authors combine tracking and body mass data from five migratory waterfowl species to understand their capacity to accelerate migration in response to earlier spring. They show considerable scope for faster migration by reducing the fuelling time before departure and subsequently on stopovers

Measuring nuclear radii with different methods (e.g. electron scattering, laser spectroscopy) often leads to inconsistencies. Carbon isotopes provide exceptional accuracies among elements in the second row, facilitating nuclear structure theory benchmarks. Here, the authors provide laser spectroscopic measurements of the nuclear charge radius of ¹³C, improving previous uncertainties.

In this Stage 2 Registered Report, Buchanan et al. show evidence confirming the phenomenon of semantic priming across speakers of 19 diverse languages.