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Estimating confidence in the decision making ability of others is important for cooperative behaviour. Here the authors combine computational modelling and fMRI to investigate how the brain supports this process.

The Myc transcription factor is a major regulator of stem cell (SC) self-renewal and pluripotency but how this integrates signals from other pathways is unclear. Here, the authors show that Myc activation triggers epigenetic memory in self renewing embryonic SCs via PRC2-mediated potentiation of the Wnt pathway.

Protocell mimetics capable of orchestrated and adaptive functions are of interest. Here, the authors report on cytomimetic models of bone tissue calcification and decalcification, integrating enzyme-containing inorganic protocells into alginate hydrogels to produce a range of matrix-integrated prototissues.

In this multicenter phase 1 trial of patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to anti-PD-1 therapy, treatment with the anti-latent TGFβ1 antibody linavonkibart with or without pembrolizumab was safe, and encouraging clinical response rates were associated with T cell infiltration and immune activation.

Artificial molecular systems can show complex kinetics of reproduction, however their integration into larger ensembles remains a challenge towards evolving higher order functionality. Here authors use show that self-reproducing lipids can initiate and accelerate octanol droplet movement and that reciprocally chemotactic movement of these droplets increases the rate of lipid reproduction substantially.

Many clinically relevant pathogens enter the body through mucosal surfaces, yet conventional parenteral immunization is insufficient to elicit robust mucosal immunity. This Review examines the unique anatomical and immunological features of the mucosal surfaces of the body and how this knowledge can be used to develop protective mucosal vaccines.

Harmonizing data from 2390 participants across four diverse reaching studies, this work quantifies how age, sex/gender, and everyday experience influence reaction time, movement speed, and precision—establishing a robust normative benchmark for human motor control.

Does self-administered mindfulness effectively reduce stress? In a study across 37 sites involving 2,239 participants, four mindfulness exercises significantly reduced short-term, self-reported stress.

Here, as part of the Sherlock-Lung study, the authors profile the microbiomes of 940 lung cancers in never smokers finding no significant associations with demographic and clinical features, suggesting lung bacteria are unlikely to have a sizable role in lung cancer.

Here, the authors document the evolutionary dynamics of angiosperm pollen, using pollen morphology and time calibrated phylogeny. They identify two surges in pollen disparity in the mid-Cretaceous and Paleogene that are associated with environmental changes and important pollen adaptations.

To date, thermodynamic computers have been designed to work in thermal equilibrium. Here, the authors show that thermodynamic circuits can perform nonlinear computations, similar to those performed by neural networks, and do so at a specified observation time, whether in or out of equilibrium.

The origin of the nematic state in the kagome metal CsTi₃Bi₅ remains unclear. Here, using polarization-dependent angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio based field theoretical methods, the authors propose a d-wave nematic order driven by electronic correlations via an orbital-selective mechanism.

Climate-crop models are important tools for guiding investments and exploring adaptation strategies in climate-resilient agriculture. Here, the authors expand climate-crop model applications for 19 African opportunity crops, including cereals, legumes, oilseeds, roots/tubers, and vegetables.

Xiao, Woodham, Cui, et al. apply machine learning to brain MRI data from major depression and the UK Biobank. They identify two neuroanatomical dimensions, one linked to preserved brain structure and healthier outcomes, and the other to reduced volumes, impaired cognition, self-harm, and adverse metabolic and genetic profiles.

Self-healing is an appealing property for solid-state battery electrolytes to combat Li metal dendrites that pierce through the solid electrolyte. Here, authors report a self-healing electrolyte and observe its self-repairing kinetics in real-time using advanced microscopy.

Somatic mutations in blood cells (CHIP) are linked to diseases like heart disease, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, the authors show that different CHIP driver genes alter unique sets of plasma proteins, some of which are validated in mouse models.

Here the authors develop a novel statistical method for quantifying mutation burden from whole genome sequencing data and use it to discover the genetic, genomic, and phenotypic correlates of clonal hematopoiesis without known driver genetic lesions.

Following on from its success in eradicating malignant B cells in cancer, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has been extended to treat autoimmune diseases. This Review discusses the preclinical studies and ongoing clinical trials of CAR T cells in autoimmune disorders, highlighting future opportunities and challenges.

People living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) remain highly susceptible to pneumococcal colonisation and disease. In an analysis of 132 adults in Malawi, the authors report that long-term ART does not restore nasal mucosal immunity.

New results indicate that rhabdodontids and the previously described Ajkaceratops are actually distinctive European ceratopsians, a group better known from Asia and North America.

Unlike the other plant pathogens, Phytophtora infestans, the causative pathogen of potato late blight, can hardly take up dsRNA, which is a key obstacle in using dsRNA for disease control. Here, the authors design a self-assembled multicomponent nano-bioprotectant for potato late blight management.

The extreme hot and dry conditions of 2023 reduced soil respiration and enhanced net forest carbon sequestration in Canada, offsetting wildfire emissions, according to satellite-based and in situ observations of CO₂ fluxes.

This Perspective considers the addition of ACKR1 genetic testing for identifying ACKR1/DARC-associated neutropenia in patients receiving clozapine, recommending eligibility criteria and testing strategies while estimating substantial cost savings for the UK healthcare system and enhancing equitable treatment access.

Inversion of C3 stereochemistry of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) has to occur at some point during their biosynthesis; however, the mechanism has remained unresolved. Here, the authors report an oxidase–reductase enzyme pair encoded within a gene cluster and demonstrate their collaborative role in inverting MIA C3 stereochemistry.

Separation of CO₂ from gas mixtures is a major application focus for porous materials. Now it has been shown that fluorinated non-porous crystalline materials can uptake CO₂ via mobile perfluoroalkyl regions, a process resembling the dissolution of CO₂ in perfluoroalkanes, while CH₄ uptake is hindered. In situ X-ray diffraction data provide insight into the sorption process.

This Review provides insights into the nanoscale physicochemical and electrochemical processes in non-aqueous electrolyte solutions for lithium metal batteries and explores emerging research directions for accelerated and iterative approaches.

Very little is known about the molecular basis of chromosome segregation in archaea. Here, the authors describe conformational changes in the chromosome during the cell cycle of the archaeon Sulfolobus. The changes depend on candidate chromosome segregation proteins that interact with the cell division machinery.

Polyamide membranes with a hierarchical structure consisting of one-dimensional nanotubes on a two-dimensional nanofilm can deliver energy-efficient nanofiltration with outstanding water–ion separation performance. This architecture provides a promising approach to the synthesis of scalable and efficient mixed-dimensional water purification membranes.

In this study, the authors develop a flavivirus vaccine strategy by introducing mutations into envelope glycoproteins resulting in structural changes that conceal the ADE-prone fusion loop epitope. They show that the Zika virus-specific construct protects mice against viral challenge and prevents ADE by Dengue virus.

Oscillations are widespread throughout the natural world and a number of fascinating inorganic oscillating reactions are known—but the formation and control of oscillating, self-replicating synthetic systems has remained challenging. Now, it has been shown that chemically fuelled oscillations within a network of organic replicators can drive supramolecular assembly and disassembly.

A randomized controlled trial found no difference in paranoid ideations between virtual reality-based and gold-standard cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, in contrast to previous trials using wait-list or passive controls.

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to different natural forcing mechanisms than the East Antarctic Ice Sheet through the mid-Pliocene due to a greater sensitivity to oceanic feedbacks, according to iceberg-rafted debris records and ice-sheet modelling experiments.

Ring nucleases are enzymes that degrade cyclic nucleotide signalling molecules generated by prokaryotic antiviral systems. Chi et al. report the structure and mechanism of a new class of ring nuclease, Crn4, with a very broad substrate specificity.

Polygenic scores for body mass index and obesity constructed using data from 5 million people with different ancestries were associated with distinct weight gain trajectories from early childhood to adulthood.

Particle fusion is a promising process for constructing nanomaterials, but challenging to control in synthetic systems. Here, the authors report a method for kinetically regulated particle fusion controlled by variation in polymer chain length.

Here the authors reveal how replication stress in BRCA2-deficient cells triggers a mutagenic cycle of APOBEC3B upregulation, uracil accumulation at stalled forks, and DNA damage, uncovering a self-reinforcing loop that fuels genomic instability.

Chronic care manages long-term, progressive conditions, while acute care handles short-term ones. Here, authors show chronic conditions account for most of the global health burden, with 68% of DALYs and 93% of YLDs attributed to chronic care needs.

Understanding how simple chemical mixtures transition into truly emergent systems is essential to create new lifelike materials. Here, the authors show a self-replicating system that can be maintained out-of-equilibrium by an oxidant fuel in analogy to simple metabolic cycles.

Selection in compartmentalized self-replicating systems might provide a way for life to arise from abiotic environments. Here, the authors explore selection in a system of transient autocatalytic lipids and find that autocatalytic kinetics and phase separation are the key selection factors.

Bottom-up assembly of protocells into networking superstructures represents a further key step towards rudimentary formation of life. Now it has been shown that a pool of biomolecules can self-organize into an interactive binary population of protocell coacervates with a self-sorting chain-like configuration, allowing for biomolecular extraction, translocation and macroscale separation.

Soft building blocks tend to be near spherical, limiting their packing structures to those found in metallic systems. Here the authors report the spontaneous generation of highly deformed mesoatoms using molecular pentagons and observe Frank–Kasper phases not found in metal alloys.

Individuals with symptoms of anxiety and depression exhibit persistent underconfidence. Here, the authors show that distortions in learning from local metacognition can explain how underconfidence is maintained in the face of intact performance.