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The next step after sequencing a genome is to figure out how the cell actually uses it as an instruction manual. A large international consortium has examined 1% of the genome for what part is transcribed, where proteins are bound, what the chromatin structure looks like, and how the sequence compares to that of other organisms.

A normative digital atlas of fetal brain maturation produced using 1,059 optimal quality, three-dimensional ultrasound brain volumes from 899 fetuses presents a unique spatiotemporal benchmark from a large cohort with normative postnatal growth and neurodevelopment at 2 years of age.

Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus is the vaccine deployed to curb mpox. Here the authors conduct a multiplexed proteomic analysis to quantify cellular and viral proteins throughout MVA virus infection of human fibroblasts and macrophages and see substantial remodelling of the host proteome.

The unexpected phenomenon of rapid, long-distance transport of an ultrathin and uniform metal film on two-dimensional crystals is reported at temperatures well below the melting points of all of the materials involved. The effect is generalizable and may offer possibilities in confined space chemistry, as well as in two-dimensional crystal growth and devices.

Through-plane conductivity in anion-exchange membranes is beneficial for their use in fuel cells as it aids movement of ions from cathode to anode. Liu and colleagues use ferrocenium polymers and an applied magnetic field to orient ion channels appropriately and achieve improvements in stability by formation of magnetically induced mixed-valence states.

CLE and CEP peptides regulate rhizobial symbiosis in legumes to balance the benefits of nitrogen fixation with the metabolic costs of nodule production. Here Laffont et al. show that cytokinin and bacterial Nod factors induce Medicago CEP7 which acts antagonistically to CLE13 to fine-tune nodulation.

Insulin resistance is associated with development of type 2 diabetes. Here the authors show that TAZ interacts with c-Jun and Tead4, inducing expression of the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) leading to increased glucose uptake in muscle, and that its activity is counteracted by statin administration.

Cytosolic RNA degradation by the RNA exosome requires the Ski complex. Here the authors show that the proteins RST1 and RIPR assist the RNA exosome and the Ski complex in RNA degradation, thereby preventing the production of secondary siRNAs from endogenous mRNAs.

The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network reports an integrative analysis of more than 400 samples of clear cell renal cell carcinoma based on genomic, DNA methylation, RNA and proteomic characterisation; frequent mutations were identified in the PI(3)K/AKT pathway, suggesting this pathway might be a potential therapeutic target, among the findings is also a demonstration of metabolic remodelling which correlates with tumour stage and severity.

Eutrophication and chlorophyll-rich algal blooms occurred at high concentrations of the thermoplastic polyurethane, but only occasionally with bioplastics, suggests a three-month experiment exposing plankton in experimental ponds.

An integrated transcriptome, genome, methylome and proteome analysis of over 200 lung adenocarcinomas reveals high rates of somatic mutations, 18 statistically significantly mutated genes including RIT1 and MGA, splicing changes, and alterations in MAPK and PI(3)K pathway activity.

Patients with Huntington’s disease carrying the FAN1 R507H mutation have earlier than predicted onset of motoric symptoms. This study provides mechanistic insight into the interactions that may promote CAG repeat expansion. FAN1 R507 interacts with PCNA D232 and this interaction is impaired for FAN1 R507H, resulting in reduced FAN1 activity.

Ice-core data show that extreme iceberg discharge events in the North Atlantic had no detectable impact on Greenland temperatures but are synchronous with abrupt acceleration of Antarctic warming.

The simplest sugar—glycolaldehyde—has recently been detected in space and now a mechanistic rationale for its formation is presented, which includes its onward reaction to the next higher aldose, glyceraldehyde. The key species in the chemistry at play is the formaldehyde isomer hydroxymethylene, which reacts with the carbonyl component in an essentially barrierless carbonyl–ene-type reaction.

Low-energy structures (LES) in the photoelectron momentum distribution, typically observed in linearly polarized tunneling ionization, are caused by Coulomb effects. The authors demonstrate that the LES induced by specific recollisions persists at any laser ellipticity, provided the nonadiabatic regime is reached with sufficiently large nonadiabaticity.

Rational design of multicomponent nanocrystals requires atomic-level understanding of reaction kinetics. Here, the authors apply single-particle liquid-cell electron microscopy imaging coupled with atomistic simulations to understand pathways and rates of bimetallic core-shell nanocubes undergoing oxidative dissolution.

Typically for surface adsorption there is a direct relationship between interaction strength and geometric distance—a stronger interaction leads to a shorter distance between interacting objects. Here the authors show a case where a stronger interaction leads to a larger distance, and explain this apparent paradox.

The performance of micromechanical and nanomechanical resonators is often hampered by mechanical damping. In this study, the authors demonstrate a numerical solver for the prediction of support-induced losses in these structures and verify experimentally the fidelity of this method.

The thermodynamic stability of atomically precise, liganded metal nanoclusters remains poorly understood. Here, the authors use first-principles calculations to derive a new theory that rationalizes the stability of these nanoclusters as a function of their composition and morphology.

Ordered self-assembly is a promising way to realize collective properties in nanocrystals, but reliable routes to such macroscopic structures are missing. Here the authors make cm-scale ordered superlattice films from gold nanoclusters, correlating film properties with the shape of the building blocks

Photoelectrochemical water splitting may be used to produce hydrogen using abundant solar energy. Here, the authors fabricate layered films of amorphous molybdenum sulphide on copper(I) oxide and demonstrate the catalytic activity and enhanced stability of these devices made from earth-abundant materials.

There is substantial interest in the development of base metal molecular catalysts for hydrogen generation. Here, the authors report a nitrosyl-containing diiron complex, and study its versatile electrochemical behaviour, which is due to the two unique iron sites and the redox active nitrosyl ligands.

BRAF inhibitors often show skin-hyperproliferative side effects in melanoma patients. Here, the authors demonstrate that BRAF inhibitors can be used to enhance skin wound healing through the MAPK- ERK pathway activation that positively regulates the proliferation of keratinocytes.

Alzheimer’s disease has been associated with increased structural brain aging. Here the authors describe a model that predicts brain aging from resting state functional connectivity data, and demonstrate this is accelerated in individuals with pre-clinical familial Alzheimer’s disease.

Biomphalaria glabrata is a fresh water snail that acts as a host for trematode Schistosoma mansoni that causes intestinal infection in human. This work describes the genome and transcriptome analyses from 12 different tissues of B glabrata, and identify genes for snail behavior and evolution.

A close-up look at the action of space weathering on carbonaceous asteroids, provided by Ryugu’s returned samples, highlights its role on the dehydration of the first micrometre-thick layer of the surface, possibly hiding a water-rich interior. The depth of the 2.7 µm hydration band may be an indication of the level of space weathering withstood by a C-type asteroid.

Nanoparticle catalysts can be highly active, but are susceptible to deactivation due to sintering under operational conditions. The Pt and Pd–Pt catalysts synthesized here are stable under demanding reaction conditions with temperatures as high as 1,100 °C.

While valuable chemicals can be obtained from biomass electro-oxidation, the mechanisms can be challenging to discern. Here, authors show that explicit control of electrochemical dehydrogenation mechanisms enables selective secondary alcohol oxidation of glycerol to produce 1,3-dihydroxyacetone.

Obtaining a high-resolution contact map using current 3D genomics technologies can be challenging with small input cell numbers. Here, the authors develop ChromaFold, a deep learning model that predicts cell-type-specific 3D contact maps from single-cell chromatin accessibility data alone.

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to CO is a route to synthesize fuels, but cheaper and more selective catalysts are required. Using a cell equipped with a bipolar membrane and the same Earth-abundant electrocatalyst at each electrode, Schreier et al. selectively produce CO, powered by a triple-junction photovoltaic.

An increase in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide and warmer temperatures can alter plant growth and development. Here the authors show that these conditions can also elicit significant changes in microRNAs expression, including some which might induce early flowering in Arabidopsis.

Effective RNase control is crucial in single-cell transcriptomics. Here, the authors introduce a synthetic, thermostable RNase inhibitor that enhances RNA stability and provides greater workflow flexibility in single-cell RNA-seq library preparation.

Abdellaoui et al. synthesize genomic evidence on the link between socio-economic status and heredity. They show how social stratification may create selection pressures, meaning that individuals are clustered in distinct environments. This may have consequences for genetic architectures and social inequality.

Distant metastasis is a major reason for mortality in patients with prostate cancer (PC). Here, the authors show that receptor-interacting protein kinase 2 (RIPK2) stabilizes c-Myc and its targeting impairs PC metastasis development.

When a plasma interacts with a surface, different thermal effects may arise. Here, the authors explore plasma interactions with a surface that produce a surface cooling effect.

Data from ocean bottom seismometers show that the mantle transition zone beneath the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge is thin and warm, which suggests more material transfer than previously thought.

To overcome limitations of previous genome-wide association studies of coronary artery disease, this study incorporates a cohort of individuals containing large fractions of Black and Hispanic individuals to provide a wider view of the genetic landscape of this disease.

The Cancer Genome Atlas presents an integrative genome-wide analysis of genetic alterations in 279 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), which are classified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status; alterations in EGFR, FGFR, PIK3CA and cyclin-dependent kinases are shown to represent candidate targets for therapeutic intervention in most HNSCCs.

This paper describes molecular subtypes of cervical cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma clusters defined by HPV status and molecular features, and distinct molecular pathways that are activated in cervical carcinomas caused by different somatic alterations and HPV types.

Organs develop unique vascular architectures to support physiological functions. Here, authors show that organo-typical vascular networks may arise from specific parenchymal cues activating unique endothelial subtypes and angiogenic sprouting processes.

Archaeologists have failed to learn the secrets of Mexico's largest ancient monument. Particle physicists might save the day, says Michael Hopkin.