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Bhattacharjee and Schaeffer et al. map exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in 94 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), finding increased EBF practice and reduced subnational variation across the majority of LMICs from 2000 to 2018. However, only six LMICs will meet WHO’s target of ≥70% EBF by 2030 nationally, and only three will achieve this in all districts.

Together with an accompanying paper presenting a transcriptomic atlas of the mouse lemur, interrogation of the atlas provides a rich body of data to support the use of the organism as a model for primate biology and health.

Survey data collected across ten low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, Africa and South America compared with surveys from Russia and the United States reveal heterogeneity in vaccine confidence in LMICs, with healthcare providers being trusted sources of information, as well as greater levels of vaccine acceptance in these countries than in Russia and the United States.

Concerns over the immunogenicity of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are growing, and the implications for tissue engineering are unknown. Here the authors evaluate the impact of anti-PEG antibodies and PEG immunogenicity on the efficacy of a PEG hydrogel-based tissue engineering therapy.

Safely opening university campuses has been a major challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, the authors describe a program of public health measures employed at a university in the United States which, combined with other non-pharmaceutical interventions, allowed the university to stay open in fall 2020 with limited evidence of transmission.

The T cell receptor β-chain is expressed in two isoforms, TRBC1 and TRBC2, with clonally expanded mature T cell lymphomas expressing one of them exclusively, while healthy T cells randomly express either TRBC1 or TRBC2. Here authors show structure-based design of a TRBC2-specific antibody, and depletion of malignant T cells carrying TRBC1 or TRBC2 with CAR-T cells against the cognate receptor chain in murine models.

There is growing need for ways to slow or prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, the authors demonstrate that a low protein diet can protect against metabolic dysfunction, slow AD progression, and preserve cognitive function in a mouse model of AD.

Analysis of lower respiratory tract microbiome of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients rules out a role for secondary respiratory infections as drivers of increased mortality.

Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples from patients with SARS-CoV-2-induced respiratory failure suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infects alveolar macrophages to cause release of T cell chemoattractants, thereby inducing local inflammatory cytokine release and further T cell activation, ultimately resulting in a positive feedback loop that drives alveolar inflammation.

Conditional cysteine restriction in mice causes substantial weight loss, exceeding that seen with essential amino acid restriction, by activating the integrated stress and oxidative stress responses, and by unexpectedly depleting coenzyme A, leading to metabolic inefficiency.

Here, the authors present a multi-omic framework using single cell technology to identify non-coding genetic variants in cranial motor neuron disorders, offering insights into their genetic basis and methods for studying other Mendelian diseases.

The spectral gap problem—whether the Hamiltonian of a quantum many-body problem is gapped or gapless—is rigorously proved to be undecidable; there exists no algorithm to determine whether an arbitrary quantum many-body model is gapped or gapless, and there exist models for which the presence or absence of a spectral gap is independent of the axioms of mathematics.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is frequently characterized by Epstein-Barr virus infection. Here, using genomic analyses, the authors find that the tumours harbour mutations in genes involved in the NF-κB signalling pathway or overexpress a viral oncoprotein, latent membrane protein 1.

Together with a companion paper, the generation of a transcriptomic atlas for the mouse lemur and analyses of example cell types establish this animal as a molecularly tractable primate model organism.

Here, using participants in the CHILD birth cohort, the authors reveal that impaired 1-year microbiota maturation may be universal to 5-year pediatric allergies, mediated by functional and metabolic imbalances of compromised mucous integrity, elevated oxidative activity, decreased fermentation, and elevated trace amines.

Time-limited skin inflammation in neonatal mice promotes a reciprocal interaction between type 2 helper T cells and fascial fibroblasts that regulates wound repair in later life.

IFNγ signalling has been described as a potential driver of resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Here the authors report that PARP14 is upregulated in chronic IFNγ-treated cancer cell models and that its inhibition restores response to anti-PD-1 therapy in preclinical cancer models.

Deregulation of transcription factors is frequently observed in cancer. Here, the authors develop a blood-based approach to map transcription factor binding, revealing both patient-specific and tumour-specific aberrations

The mechanisms of pathological astrocyte responses during multiple sclerosis remain unclear. Kadowaki et al. found in MS mouse models that CLEC16A suppresses astrocyte pathogenic activities related to mitochondria by boosting mitophagy.

Bleckwehl et al. present a spatial transcriptomic map of atherosclerotic plaques across disease stages, revealing cellular recruitment and migration patterns and intercellular communication dynamics as a valuable resource for future research.

Myosin motors perform many fundamental functions in eukaryotic cells by providing force generation, transport or tethering capacity. Here, the authors show that a single phosphorylation event can modulate actin-activated ATPase activity and change the mechanical properties of myosin-VI.

CREBBP mutations in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) are linked to poor prognosis and chemoresistance. Here, the authors show that genetic or pharmacological inactivation of CREBBP sensitizes B-ALL cells to the BCL2 inhibitor Venetoclax, inducing ferroptotic cell death and extending survival in B-ALL preclinical mouse models.

Similarities in cancers can be studied to interrogate their etiology. Here, the authors use genome-wide association study summary statistics from six cancer types based on 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, showing that solid tumours arising from different tissues share a degree of common germline genetic basis.

Optical clock networks have many applications from precision time keeping, sensing to fundamental physics. Here the authors demonstrate robust and free-space femtosecond time synchronization of optical clocks via a moving quadcopter.

Single-cell analysis of lung, heart, kidney and liver autopsy samples shows the molecular and cellular changes and immune response resulting from severe COVID-19 infection.

Part of The Simpsons' greatness is a willingness to find the humour in absolutely everything — including science. Executive producer Al Jean, the show's head writer and a Harvard mathematics graduate, talks to Nature about how to get a laugh out of Euler's formula.

Although progress in the coverage of routine measles vaccination in children in low- and middle-income countries was made during 2000–2019, many countries remain far from the goal of 80% coverage in all districts by 2019.

Sepsis is a global challenge and a significant burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, Chenoweth et al profile host gene expression signatures from a cohort in Ghana to define molecular phenotypes and identify potential targets to improve patient outcomes.

Heterogeneous response to Enzalutamide remains a critical issue in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Here, the authors reconstruct a CRPC-specific mechanism-centric regulatory network to identify signatures of Enzalutamide response and predict patients at risk of Enzalutamide resistance.

A ‘mouse atlas’, comprising single-cell transcriptomic data from more than 100,000 cells from 20 organs and tissues, has been created as a resource for cell biology.

Forecasting ecology can support proactive decision-making in the face of uncertain environmental conditions. Using case studies on whale entanglement and sea turtle bycatch, this study showcases the capacity for existing management tools to transition to a forecast configuration and provide skilful forecasts up to 12 months in advance.

Analysis of rare protein-truncating, damaging missense and copy number variants from exome sequencing of 63,237 individuals identifies 72 genes associated with autism spectrum disorder.

The detection of Lyman continuum emission with a high escape fraction from a low-mass clumpy galaxy at z = 1.42, in a redshift range where previously no similar sources were detected, opens up a new window to constrain the shape of the ionization spectrum.

A subpopulation of astrocytes characterized by the expression of LAMP1 and TRAIL limits inflammation in the central nervous system through a mechanism involving the microbiota-modulated expression of IFNγ in meningeal natural killer cells.

Interactions between the immune system and adipose tissue contribute to the regulation of body weight, however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here the authors dissect the role of two structurally and functionally similar immune mediators, BAFF and APRIL, in modifying diet-induced weight gain and adipocyte lipid handling.

Red List information is used to generate global maps of the likelihood of impacts on terrestrial vertebrates exerted by agriculture, hunting and trapping, logging, pollution, invasive species and climate change.

A single-cell transcriptomic analysis of 63 patients with colorectal cancer classifies tumor cells into two epithelial subtypes. An improved tumor classification based on epithelial subtype, microsatellite stability and fibrosis reveals differences in pathway activation and metastasis.

Acute tubular injury (ATI) significantly contributes to many kidney diseases. Here, the authors identify several immune response and cellular stress plasma proteins linked to ATI severity and acute kidney injury, which may aid in non-invasive ATI assessment.

A spectroscopic thermal phase curve of GJ 1214b obtained with the JWST in the mid-infrared is reported and a planet with a high metallicity atmosphere blanketed by thick and reflective clouds or haze is found.

Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow suggest our Universe isn't all that special, finds Michael Turner.