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The BioDIGS project is a nationwide initiative involving students, researchers and educators across more than 40 research and teaching institutions. Participants lead sample collection, computational analysis and results interpretation to understand the relationships between the soil microbiome, environment and health.

Improving recombinant protein expression and stabilization remains a significant challenge. Here, the authors engineer Archaeoglobus fulgidus ferritin as a thermostable exoshell to provide steric accommodation and charge complementation for recombinant proteins, which can improve yields by 100 fold.

Genomic analyses focused on regions that form R-loops identify rare mutations in RNU2-2 and RNU5B-1 in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.

A small molecule can bypass the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1 to directly activate the Z-form nucleic acid sensor ZBP1, induce necroptosis in tumour fibroblasts and reverse resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in mouse models of melanoma.

Iodic acid (HIO₃) forms aerosols very efficiently, but its gas-phase formation mechanism is not well understood. Atmospheric simulation chamber experiments, quantum chemical calculations and kinetic modelling have now revealed that HIO₃ forms as an early iodine oxidation product from hypoiodite. The mechanism explains field measurements and suggests a catalytic role for iodine in particle formation.

eIF5A is critical for protein synthesis but has not yet been associated with congenital human disease. Here, the authors show that EIF5A variants cause a Mendelian disorder via reduced eIF5A-ribosome interactions and this phenotype is partially corrected by spermidine supplementation in yeast and zebrafish.

Rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) can infect humans, but the extent of spillover isn’t well studied. Here the authors develop a serological test that distinguishes exposure to rat HEV from other HEV infection and show substantial spillover in a biodiversity hotspot in China. The method can support surveillance of rat HEV.

A risk-based, spatially explicit analysis of carbon storage in sedimentary basins establishes a prudent planetary limit of around 1,460 Gt of geological carbon storage, which requires making explicit decisions on priorities for storage use.

A wireless, minimally invasive emergency rescue device is developed for the active burst-release of stable particulate forms of peptide and hormone drugs into subcutaneous sites in mice.

Commonly used organic dyes can photoconvert to blue-shifted fluorescent species, especially under intense illumination. The mechanism of this process and how to avoid unwanted artifacts in super-resolution microscopy are explored here.

A method for detecting mutations and measuring gene-expression levels in the same cell has enabled an investigation into the effects of mutations in a specific gene on the emergence of a form of blood cancer.

The human kidney maintains homeostasis through a complex network of up to a million nephrons. Here the authors construct a 3D neuro-nephron connectivity map of human kidneys, which reveals neuro-glomerular communities across the kidney connected via “mother glomeruli” as hub points explaining structural basis for fluid homeostasis. These networks develop after birth and decline with age and in disease states

Anisotropies in conductivity measurements of bismuth point to the spontaneous breaking of intrinsic degeneracies in its electronic structure — and suggest there may be still more to learn from this well-studied material.

Though a global assessment of rooftop solar photovoltaic (RTSPV) technology’s potential and the cost is needed to estimate its impact, existing methods demand extensive data processing. Here, the authors report a machine learning method to realize a high-resolution global assessment of RTSPV potential.

The authors show PTEN mutations, which can cause both congenital hydrocephalus and autism spectrum disorder, disrupt CSF homeostasis and brain connectivity in mice. Reducing mTORC1 activation ameliorates ventricular enlargement and neuronal deficits.

Variants of the 3′−5′ exonuclease TREX1 can cause retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy (RVCL). Here, the authors show that RVCL-associated TREX1 variants trigger DNA damage in humans, mice, and Drosophila, and render cells more vulnerable to DNA damage inducing agents.

Researchers present a waveform synthesis scheme that coherently multiplexes the outputs from two broadband optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifiers. The technique provides control at the sub-cycle scale and generates high-energy ultrashort waveforms for use in strong-field physics experiments.

Systematic comparison of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins from pre- and post-Omicron variants in cell lines, primary respiratory epithelial cells and Syrian hamsters show distinct phenotypic trajectories in replication kinetics, cell tropism, cell-to-cell fusion, spike processing, cell entry routes and virulence.

Experiments performed in the CERN CLOUD chamber show that, under upper-tropospheric conditions, new atmospheric particle formation may be initiated by the reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene emitted by rainforests.

The molecular heterogeneity of glycosylated biotherapeutics often complicates analysis by intact mass spectrometry. Here, the authors propose a simplified procedure for characterization that employs proton transfer charge reduction. Integration with glycomic and glycopeptide datasets can further provide glycoform-level information.

Artificial biomolecular condensates are valuable tools to study the design principles of phase separation. Here, the authors demonstrate and characterize a model system of artificial DNA condensates whose kinetic formation and dissolution depends on DNA inputs that activate or deactivate the phase separating DNA subunits.

Finding an optimal shape for transport networks, represented as multilayer structures, is a challenging problem. The authors propose analytical and computational frameworks to analyze sharp transitions from symmetric to asymmetric shapes in optimal networks, that can be applied for planning and development of improved multimodal transportation systems within a city.

Cranial sutures are major growth centers for the skull vault and premature fusion leads to pathological fusion, craniosynostosis. Here the authors isolate Wnt responsive skeletal stem and progenitor cells from sutures, that can be transplanted together with Wnt3a protein to repair craniosynostosis in a mouse model.

Electrochemically mutable soft metasurfaces based on soft conducting polymers exploit the deformability of soft materials through swelling to dynamically tune the shape and associated resonant response of the metasurface devices.

Costa and co-authors detected an earthquake in Mexico using conventional polarisation optics within a trans-oceanic fibre-optic cable connecting Los Angeles, USA with Valparaiso, Chile. Their approach enables non-invasive monitoring and localization of seismic waves on the seabed.

In this work, the authors report Cryo-EM imaging revealing diversity in amyloid fibril structures among ATTR patients with the same genetic mutation I84S. Further study is warranted to grasp the implications in ATTR amyloidosis pathology.

Astrocyte diversity is greatly influenced by local environmental modulation. Wang et al. report a critical role for astrocytic primary cilia in transmitting local cues that drive the region-specific diversification of astrocytes within the developing mouse brain.

“In ALS clinical trials, efficacy is often assessed via subjective patient or clinician reports. The authors introduce a machine-learned severity score based on wearable sensor data from daily activities, which is reliable, sensitive, and could reduce clinical trial sizes.”

An apparent redundant role with EZH2 has rendered EZH1 as a secondary player in PRC2-mediated homeostasis regulation. Here, the authors report that gain- and loss-of-function variants in EZH1 cause neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting its functional relevance.

Coherent interconversion between microwave and optical frequencies is crucial for developing quantum networks. To this end, the authors integrate piezoelectric actuators on photonic integrated circuits, enabling bidirectional transduction mediated by high-overtone bulk acoustic resonances.

Understanding amino acid aqueous solubility and hygroscopicity is important for examining their interaction with water vapour and their role in regulating the atmosphere-biosphere nutrient cycle, however, water uptake modelling studies remain scarce. Here, the authors apply the COSMOtherm program, based on the conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS), to study a group of amino acids and their mixtures with inorganic salts, reporting property calculations of amino acids, as well as cloud droplet activation curves.

c-di-GMP has emerged as the signal controlling development in antibiotic producing Streptomyces. Here the authors describe another developmental role of c-di-GMP, in energy metabolism, by activating the glycogen-debranchingenzyme, GlgX. Structures revealing the activation mechanism are described.

Hong Kong experienced a severe wave of SARS-CoV-2 in early 2022. Here, the authors use genomic and serosurveillance data and show that this wave was dominated by the Omicron BA.2 sublineage, and that low protective immunity, particularly in older age groups, contributed to its severity.

DNA-PAINT image acquisition is limited by speed. Here the authors use the neural network DeepSTORM to predict fluorophore positions from high emitter density DNA-PAINT data in order to achieve image acquisition in one minute; they demonstrate multi-colour and large-area imaging of semi-thin neuronal tissue.

Alternatives to lithium-ion electrochemistry present challenges due to undesirable phenomena at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Through simulations, the authors find that the performance of a calcium-based electrolyte is driven entirely by molecular-scale processes within approximately 1 nm of the electrode.

Erasure of DNA methylation from the parental genomes is critical to reset the methylome of differentiated gametes to pluripotent cells in the blastocyst. Here, the authors present a high-throughput single-cell method that enables strand-specific quantification of DNA methylation and identify distinct modes of DNA demethylation dynamics during early mammalian development.