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The introduction of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) revolutionized stroke treatment, but experimental studies have suggested potential toxic effects of this molecule on various components of the CNS. Two new studies have added further insight into the complex CNS effects of tPA following traumatic brain injury and brain ischaemia.

When asleep, cancer cells can evade chemo. When they wake up, they can cause cancer recurrence. By deciphering dormancy cues, labs explore how to break this cycle.

The C/O ratio of the transiting hot Jupiter WASP-77Ab is measured here and found to be approximately solar, though the (C+O)/H ratio is subsolar.

The ventral palladium (VP) is involved in reward and contains mostly GABAergic neurons, but also glutamatergic neurons. Here, the authors characterize glutamatergic VP neurons and show that glutamatergic versus GABAergic projections play roles in avoidance and reinforcement, respectively.

It has generally been thought that the primary visual cortex (V1) receives its driving input via the lateral geniculate nucleus and is modulated by input from the lateral pulvinar nucleus. Using several different techniques to manipulate lateral pulvinar activity, the authors report that the lateral pulvinar is able to gate information outflow from V1.

Here, the authors isolate and characterize a bispecific monomeric nanobody that induces dimerization of SARS-CoV-2 spike trimers, neutralizes variants of concerns as well as SARS-CoV, and inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice.

During embryonic development, neural progenitor cells undergo numerous cell divisions. Here, the authors show that ABHD4-mediated developmental anoikis distinguishes the physiological delamination and the pathological detachment of progenitor cells with relevance to fetal alcohol-induced apoptosis.

Shifting gears in the latter part of one’s career is, for some, a way to do science differently.

The oncohistone H3.3-K27M decreases chromatin accessibility and H3K27ac at some active enhancers and downregulates nearby neurodevelopmental genes, while increasing transcriptional repression of a subset of PRC2-bound neurodevelopment genes.

These researchers put their labs’ philosophies into practice and find it empowers science and collaboration.

Even in well-studied species, there is still substantial natural genetic variation that has not been characterized. Here, the authors use long read sequencing to discover transposable elements in the Drosophila genome not detected by short read sequencing, and link them to gene expression.

There is currently no disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s disease, a common neurodegenerative disorder. Here, the authors use genetic variation associated with gene and protein expression to find putative drug targets for Parkinson’s disease using Mendelian randomization of the druggable genome.

A cascaded hard X-ray self-seeding system is demonstrated at the European X-ray free-electron laser. The setup enables millijoule-level pulses in the photon energy range of 6–14 keV at the rate of ten trains per second, with each train including hundreds of pulses arriving at a megahertz repetition rate.

It remains unclear how proteins translocate across the peroxisomal membrane. Insights into a potential import pore are provided with the finding that the import receptor Pex5p forms a dynamic ion channel together with Pex14p, which can be induced to open upon receptor-cargo complex association.

When spouses are both scientists, they mix the typical research career decisions with some marriage-related ones.

Water-soluble chlorophyll protein forms a tetrameric complex with only four identical chlorophyll-binding sites. Mutational and structural analysis identify the basis of selectivity between a and b forms of chlorophyll.

Evidence of a large temperature difference between dawn and dusk has been observed on the exoplanet WASP-107 b. This planet is so cool that it was not expected to exhibit this phenomenon, implying a need to further explore the exoplanet population.

Electrodes and electrode arrays to record from neurons come in an increasing number of shapes and sizes, and engineers are continuously adding capabilities.

Mátyás, Komlósi, et al. describe a highly specialized, calretinin-containing cell population in the dorsal medial thalamus. Connectivity, activity, and optogenetic manipulations identify these neurons as key mediators of forebrain arousal.

Scientists in stem cell and conservation biology are exploring how they might rescue endangered species, and perhaps even de-extinct some. From cell to genetically diverse population is a trek.

Observations from the JWST show the presence of a spectral absorption feature at 4.05 μm arising from SO₂ in the atmosphere of the gas giant exoplanet WASP-39b, which is produced by photochemical processes and verified by numerical models.

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.

Each year, Nature Biotechnology highlights companies that have received sizeable early-stage funding in the previous year. Atomic AI generates the structure data it needs for its AI model with the aim of RNA drug discovery.

Although dendrimers have not yet taken the drug industry by storm, biomedical research and industrial applications of these tiny, highly branched molecules continue to grow. Vivien Marx reports.

At the American Society of Human Genetics’ annual meeting in Denver, some attendees shared how they network at conferences.

Comprehensive CRISPR mutagenesis targeting all members of the NuRD complex identifies a specific subcomplex required for fetal globin silencing and informs a rational targeting strategy for elevating globin levels while avoiding cytotoxicity.

Ageing in humans is associated with an increase in circulating methylmalonic acid, which induces expression of SOX4 and promotes tumour progression.

Infidelity is painful in life and in the lab. The former is better left to other publications; the latter is best not ignored, especially in the context of PCR-based DNA amplification.

Measuring how much a fruit fly eats opens the door to studies of metabolism and aging. But the assays are hotly debated.

The processes behind neuronal communication have not yet been resolved in detail, but dyes, microscopy and protein analysis are beginning to fill in the gaps.

Vectors can be the ultimate vehicle for transporting material into cells. Except when they’re not so ultimate.

Universal quantum logic operations with fidelity exceeding 99%, approaching the threshold of fault tolerance, are realized in a scalable silicon device comprising an electron and two phosphorus nuclei, and a fidelity of 92.5% is obtained for a three-qubit entangled state.

Most studies of the genetics of the metabolome have been done in individuals of European descent. Here, the authors integrate genomics and metabolomics in Black individuals, highlighting the value of whole genome sequencing in diverse populations and linking circulating metabolites to human disease.

DNA folding shapes gene expression. Emerging techniques promise to reveal the intricacies of this architectural language of chromosomes.

Microprocessor communications have received a boost from the integration of electronics and photonics in silicon — a first step towards low power consumption and efficient computing systems. See Letter p.534

Gomes, Ilter, Low et al. show that alterations in propionate metabolism contribute to cancer aggressiveness through the accumulation of the by-product methylmalonic acid.

Each year, Nature Biotechnology highlights companies that have received sizeable early-stage funding in the previous year. Gate Bioscience wants to tailor gates that stop problematic proteins at the source.

Encouraging more broad and inclusive data sharing in today's world will involve concerted community efforts to overcome technical barriers and human foibles. Vivien Marx investigates.

With grit, urgency and creativity, scientists address the puzzle of long-haul COVID.

As scientists avidly use, tinker and build with artificial intelligence tools, best practices begin to emerge.

Hydrothermal vents are biogeochemically important, but their contribution to the carbon cycle is poorly constrained. Here the authors build a biogeochemical model that estimates autotrophic and heterotrophic production rates of microbial communities within hydrothermal plumes along mid-ocean ridges.

An ~5 km³ volcanic edifice offshore Mayotte formed between May 2018 and May 2019 by rapid magma intrusion through the entire lithosphere, according to an analysis of marine observations and geophysical data.

Using a gravitational-wave detector to  listen for dark matter signatures, a direct search for scalar field dark matter was conducted and new upper limits are set on the coupling constants.

Researchers scale up how to crowdsource the mapping of neural circuits. These projects entice crowds by tapping into their spirit of play.

Acoustic tweezers nudge cells or particles with sound waves.

Platelet aggregation is associated with myocardial infarction and stroke. Here, the authors have conducted a whole genome sequencing association study on platelet aggregation, discovering a locus in RGS18, where enhancer assays suggest an effect on activity of haematopoeitic lineage transcription factors.

As they study the emerging roles of RNA in disease and homeostasis, some scientists use RNA editing to direct precise RNA changes that shape cellular events.

Collaborations between researchers and companies can progress swimmingly and teams quickly validate findings and mature methods. All too often, things can’t advance and the ‘Valley of Death’ looms. New ways to collaborate, underpinned by computational muscle, can help.