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A purpose-built implantable system based on biomimetic epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord reduces the severity of hypotensive complications in people with spinal cord injury and improves quality of life.

Networks of miniaturized magnetoelectric wireless implantable devices can be individually powered and controlled by a single transmitter, show power and transfer data efficiencies that scale with the number of receivers and be used for spinal cord stimulation and cardiac pacing in large animals.

Photonic integrated circuits allow laser displays to be flattened into a compact form factor while improving efficiency and colour performance.

Analyses of genome and exome sequencing data identify rare coding and structural variants associated with atrial fibrillation and highlight genetic links between atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathies.

The replicative helicase CMG is targeted for removal or proteolysis by the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAIP. This study describes how the de-ubiquitylating enzyme USP37 protects genome stability by preventing premature TRAIP-dependent CMG unloading when replication stress impedes timely termination.

Strongly interacting condensed-matter systems are often computationally intractable. By introducing a periodic lattice to a holographic model developed by string theorists, it becomes possible to study anisotropic materials that are insulating in certain directions but conducting in others.

Here the authors develop a pipeline combining atomic force microscopy and deep learning to trace and quantify the structure of complex DNA molecules like replication intermediates and recombination products. Furthermore, they characterise surface deposition effects using simulations.

Understanding the fundamental limits to photonic design is both theoretically important and critical to the development of future high-performance photonic devices. This Review surveys progress made in this area and discusses an emerging general framework for evaluating photonic design limits based on conservation principles and optimization theory.

Genome-wide analyses identify variants associated with sinus node dysfunction, distal conduction disease and pacemaker implantation, implicating ion channel function, cardiac developmental programs and sarcomeric structure in bradyarrhythmia susceptibility.

Haploinsufficiency in three genes associated with risk of autism spectrum disorder—KMT5B, ARID1B and CHD8—in cell lines from multiple donors results in cell-type-specific asynchronous development of GABAergic neurons and cortical deep-layer excitatory projection neurons.

Dietary inulin fibre alters the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota, resulting in elevated levels of bile acids that subsequently trigger mucosal type 2 inflammation characterized by eosinophilia, with clinical implications for allergy and anti-helminth defence.

Differences in the Pace of Aging are important for many health outcomes but difficult to measure. Here the authors describe the Dunedin Pace of Aging Calculated from NeuroImaging measure, an approach that uses a single brain image to measure how fast a person is aging and can help predict mortality or the risk of developing chronic disease.

Genomic studies often lack representation from diverse populations, limiting equitable insights. Here, the authors show that the BIG Initiative captures extensive genetic diversity and reveals ancestry-linked health disparities in a community-based Mid-South cohort.

Long non-coding RNAs transcribed at DNA damaged sites can play part in DNA damage response. Here the authors reveal that damaged induced lncRNAs can form DNA:RNA hybrids at resected DNA-ends. These hybrids are involved in recruiting HR-mediated repair machinery which, in turn, controls their level at DSBs.

The threats of old are still the dominant drivers of current species loss, indicates an analysis of IUCN Red List data by Sean Maxwell and colleagues.

Red beds contain reduction spheroids that formed underground millions of years ago and whose origin remains poorly constrained. Here the authors use uranium isotopes to identify ancient fingerprints of bacteria in these features, confirming that they were produced by subsurface life in the geological past.

Theoretical high-energy and condensed-matter physics share various ideas and tools. New connections between the two have been established through quantum information, providing exciting prospects for theoretical advances and even potential experimental studies. Six scientists discuss different directions of research in this inter-disciplinary field.

A dataset of coding variation, derived from exome sequencing of nearly one million individuals from a range of ancestries, provides insight into rare variants and could accelerate the discovery of disease-associated genes and advance precision medicine efforts.

Genome-wide association analyses of prostate cancer in men from sub-Saharan Africa identify population-specific risk variants and regional differences in effect sizes. Founder effects contribute to continental differences in the genetic architecture of prostate cancer.

Plasmas have different properties at the boundaries as compared to the bulk which has important implications for applications. Here, the authors study charge decay in a spatial afterglow by both experimental diagnostics and modeling to reveal a transition from ambipolar to free diffusion.

Genotype and exome sequencing of 150,000 participants and whole-genome sequencing of 9,950 selected individuals recruited into the Mexico City Prospective Study constitute a valuable, publicly available resource of non-European sequencing data.

Men and women differ in their risk of developing coronary artery disease, in part due to differences in their levels of sex hormones. Here, AlSiraj et al. show that the XX sex genotype regulates lipid metabolism and promotes atherosclerosis independently of sex hormones in mice.

Here, Tisza, Dekker, and colleagues perform large scale analysis of genome methylation in the gut commensal and pathogen, Bacteroides fragilis group, revealing immense methyl motif diversity and evidence of widespread methyltransferase exchange among phages.

Analysis of whole-exome sequencing data from over 200,000 individuals in the UK Biobank provides new insights into the contribution of rare variants to cardiometabolic diseases and traits.

Comparing relevant indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals with other indicators of biodiversity trends shows little relation between the two, because the former more strongly reflect socioeconomic indicators.

Whole-genome sequencing and phenotype data sharing are introduced in a national health system to streamline diagnosis and to discover coding and non-coding variants that cause rare diseases.

Excitons — electron–hole pairs held together by the Coulomb force — are quasiparticles that are created when light interacts with matter. In metals, exciton generation is hard to detect; indeed, holes are usually not associated with metals. Now, using femtosecond laser pulses triggering three-photon photoemission processes, excitonic response is reported for silver surfaces.

Warmer spring temperatures affect the timing of stem diameter growth of temperate deciduous trees but have little effect on annual growth.

Stroke is a multifactorial disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Here, the authors apply exome-wide association analysis to find rare coding variants associated with stroke in a Pakistani cohort, finding a significant association of a variant in NOTCH3 that is highly enriched in South Asians.

A cohort study tracking 20-year age-related declines in multiple organ systems finds that, already by midlife, those aging fastest showed cognitive declines, signs of brain aging, diminished sensory–motor function and negative views about aging.

Manual sample deposition on a substrate can introduce artifacts in quantitative AFM measurements. Here the authors present a microfluidic spray device for reliable deposition of subpicoliter droplets which dry out in milliseconds after landing on the surface, thereby avoiding protein self-assembly.

The early steps of ribosome assembly occur co-transcriptionally on the nascent ribosomal RNA. Here the authors demonstrate an approach that allows simultaneous monitoring of transcription and ribosomal protein assembly at the single-molecule level in real time.

Exome sequences from the first 49,960 participants in the UK Biobank highlight the promise of genome sequencing in large population-based studies and are now accessible to the scientific community.

Anterior Uveitis is a common inflammatory eye disease that can result in vision loss. Here, the authors perform GWAS and whole-exome analyses of Anterior Uveitis to identify the underlying genetics of HLA-B*27 positive and negative forms of the disease.

Clinical tests that rely on next-generation sequencing to evaluate large numbers of cancer genes can be validated using pooled cell lines with known mutations.

Metastatic cells can mimic many of the phenotypic behaviors of embryonic cells. Here, the authors generate a melanoblast-specific transcriptome using a genetically engineered mouse model and identify KDELR3 as a pro-metastasis gene in melanoma.

Durable agonism of NPR1 achieved with a novel investigational monoclonal antibody could mirror the positive hemodynamic changes in blood pressure and heart failure identified in humans with lifelong exposure to NPR1 coding variants.