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Interpreting astronomical observations relies on accurate rate coefficients for molecular vibrational transitions caused by collisions with H₂. Yang et al. exploit state-of-the-art inelastic quantum dynamic simulations to provide a full-dimensional computation for rovibrational quenching of CO by H₂.

Excitons can exhibit topologically non-trivial states. Here, the authors theoretically demonstrate that excitons can exhibit controllable topology and localization properties due to their geometry in organic polymers.

This Perspective article provides a detailed overview of the oesophagus as an immune organ, highlighting its innate immune components and sensing mechanisms that maintain homeostasis and barrier integrity while responding to antigenic and biophysical challenges.

An integrated device that combines optical parametric oscillation and electro-optic modulation in lithium niobate creates a flat-top frequency-comb-like output with low power requirements.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a major risk factor for Barret’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA). Here, An et al. report 25 genetic loci for GERD, many of which associate with BE and EA or with other traits such as BMI.

Temporal multi-omic analysis of tissues from rats undergoing up to eight weeks of endurance exercise training reveals widespread shared, tissue-specific and sex-specific changes, including immune, metabolic, stress response and mitochondrial pathways.

Studies of the genetic association between vitamin D and cancer risk have typically been underpowered. Here the authors analyse this using Mendelian Randomisation with more than 70 vitamin D variants obtained from the UK Biobank and large-scale data from various consortia, confirming null associations between vitamin D and most cancers.

Here, the authors demonstrate a chip-scale device that realizes a comprehensive set of resonant second order nonlinear processes including optical parametric oscillation with a threshold power of 70 microwatts.

It is known that exercise influences many human traits, but not which tissues and genes are most important. This study connects transcriptome data collected across 15 tissues during exercise training in rats as part of the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium with human data to identify traits with similar tissue specific gene expression signatures to exercise.

Understanding the genetic basis of cognitive traits could aid the development of numeracy and literacy skills in children. Here the authors show that reading and mathematics have a large overlapping genetic component and suggest that a child's learning environment has a key role in creating differences between them.

Screening for small-molecule epigenetic modulators identifies HDAC3 inhibitors that promote peripheral myelin repair after nerve injury in rodents.

Matthew Brown, Peter Donnelly and colleagues report results of a genome-wide association meta-analysis and follow-up study of ankylosing spondylitis. They identify three new risk variants and report a genetic interaction between ERAP1 and HLA-B27, implicating aberrant peptide handling in the pathophysiology of this disease.

Peter Donnelly and colleagues report a genome-wide association study for Barrett's esophagus, a common premalignant condition associated with stomach acid reflux and predisposing to esophageal adenocarcinoma. They identify two loci associated with susceptibility to Barrett's esophagus.

Sexual dimorphism in genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren’s syndrome is linked to differential protein abundance from alleles of complement component 4.

This study shows that the transcriptional regulator Zeb2 is required for the onset of peripheral myelination and remyelination. Zeb2 recruits HDAC1–HDAC2–NuRD co-repressor complexes to antagonize inhibitory effectors including Notch, while activating promyelinogenic factors. A Mowat-Wilson syndrome–associated ZEB2 mutation disrupting HDAC–NuRD interaction abolishes Zeb2 activity for Schwann cell differentiation.

Myelination of peripheral axons by Schwann cells is essential for proper transmission of nerve signals but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Here the authors show that metabolic changes are required to ensure Schwann cell differentiation and proper myelination, and involve the tumour suppressor Lkb1 in regulating this process.

Traumatic brain injury is associated with changes to the metabolome. Here the authors show that acute traumatic brain injury has distinctive serum metabolic patterns which may suggest protective changes of systemic lipid metabolism aiming to maintain lipid homeostasis in the brain.

The measurement of the total cross-section of proton–proton collisions is of fundamental importance for particle physics. Here, the first measurement of the inelastic cross-section is presented for proton–proton collisions at an energy of 7 teraelectronvolts using the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider.

Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Here, the authors carry out a large meta-analysis of genetic data from individuals of European and Asian ancestry and identify 10 new loci associated with vertical cup-disc ratio, a key factor in the clinical assessment of patients with glaucoma.

End-stage kidney disease confers a high risk for severe COVID-19 infection. Using an at-risk group (end-stage kidney disease patients with COVID-19), authors using RNA-sequencing of immune cells and plasma proteomic profiling to investigate the host response to viral infection.

Patrick Sullivan and colleagues report a multi-stage genome-wide association study for schizophrenia in a Swedish population. They identify 13 loci newly associated with schizophrenia.

A thin low-loss indium oxide interconnect layer grown by atomic layer deposition enables perovskite–organic hybrid tandem solar cells with a high open-circuit voltage and a high power conversion efficiency.

Statins are effectively used to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease, but patient response to these drugs is highly variable. Here, the authors identify two new genes associated with the response of LDL cholesterol to statins and advance our understanding of the genetic basis of drug response.

Reduced central corneal thickness (CCT) is observed in common eye diseases as well as in rare Mendelian disorders. Here, in a cross-ancestry GWAS, the authors identify 19 novel genetic loci associated with CCT, a subset of which is involved in rare corneal or connective tissue disorders.

Hugh Markus, Peter Donnelly and colleagues report a genome-wide association study for ischemic stroke. They identify a SNP in HDAC9, a histone deacetylase gene, that is associated with large vessel ischemic stroke and suggest subtype-specific associations to ischemic stroke.

Jenefer Blackwell, Peter Donnelly and colleagues report a genome-wide association study for visceral leishmaniasis using studies from India and Brazil, with replication in an additional Indian study. They identify common variants at the HLA-DRB1–HLA-DQA1 HLA class II region associated with susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis.

Richard Trembath and colleagues report a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for psoriasis, including 2 cohorts genotyped on the custom Immunochip array, in a total of 10,588 cases and 22,806 controls. They identify 15 new susceptibility loci and refine signals in previously known loci, highlighting a role for innate host defense in susceptibility to psoriasis.

Richard Trembath, Peter Donnelly and colleagues report a genome-wide association study identifying six new psoriasis susceptibility loci. They also identify a statistical interaction between HLA-C and ERAP1 in psoriasis susceptibility.

The UK IBD Genetics Consortium and the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2 report results of a genome-wide association study of ulcerative colitis. They identify three new loci associated with the disease, including the HNF4A region on 20q13.