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Mutations in PTEN have been associated with various human disease, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cancer. Here, the authors assess the function of 106 PTEN variants in yeast, invertebrate models and cell culture and report that PTEN variants generally decrease protein stability.

The efficiency of organic solar cells may be increased by the incorporation of materials capable of singlet fission. Here, Tritsch and colleagues identify strategies to enhance the extraction of multiple excitons from the desirable singlet fission process.

EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) exhibit diverse clinical outcomes in response to targeted therapies. Here the authors show that these LUADs involve a complex genomic landscape with high intratumor heterogeneity, providing insights into the evolutionary trajectory of oncogene-driven LUAD and potential mediators of EGFR TKI resistance.

Nanocomposites reinforced with functionalized graphene sheets that form strong interactions with the surrounding polymer matrix are shown to have significantly enhanced thermal and mechanical properties.

Wang et al. develop data-independent acquisition activity-based protein profiling, a quantitative chemoproteomic method to globally profile protein dopamination in the mouse brain, and identify a protective role of dopamine in regulating the function of microtubule-associated protein Tau.

Correlations in momentum space between hadrons created by ultrarelativistic proton–proton collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider provide insights into the strong interaction, particularly the short-range dynamics of hyperons—baryons that contain strange quarks.

Tao et al. reported a series of cryo-EM structures of α-synuclein fibrils in complex with amyloid dyes and imaging tracers, and identified druggable pockets in the fibrils of multiple system atrophy.

Layered oxide cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries often experience irreversible phase transitions and structural instability. Now researchers have developed a P2-type oxide containing earth-abundant elements, featuring an intergrowth phase structure that enables long-cycle, high-energy sodium-ion batteries.

Analysis of mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) by using whole-genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancer samples across 38 cancer types identifies hypermutated mtDNA cases, frequent somatic nuclear transfer of mtDNA and high variability of mtDNA copy number in many cancers.

The Kondo insulator samarium hexaboride exhibits low-temperature transport anomalies, which might be due to topological surface states. Here Jiang et al.perform angle-resolved photoemission and its circular dichroism measurements, which suggest that the anomalies might be of topological origin.

The variable intensity of Southern Ocean as well as North Atlantic deep-water ventilation explains differences in atmospheric CO₂ trends and magnitudes during cold stadials over the past 150,000 years, according to a record of deep-ocean acidity.

Ferroelectric polymeric materials possess intermixture of crystalline and amorphous regions with complex Curie transition. Here, the authors demonstrate that the semi-crystalline morphology of the ferroelectric copolymer of P(VDF-TrFE) strongly affects its Curie transition.

The nanostructured diamond capsule process with the inert gases solid argon and neon is demonstrated, where the trapped volatile gases could sustain their high-pressure states without confinement of conventional high-pressure vessels, opening up the possibility of in-depth investigations of high-pressure phenomena.

A Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine should provide long-lasting immunity, which may be achieved with a live-attenuated vaccine. Here, Kwek et al. select an interferon-restricted, attenuated ZIKV variant and evaluate replication and immunogenicity in mouse and mosquito models.

Tumor-reactive T cell receptors are rapidly identified from lymphocyte scRNA-seq data.

The mechanisms regulating regeneration of the earthworm are unclear. Here, the authors use genomic and transcriptomic analysis of the earthworm Eisenia andrei together with Hi-C analysis to identify genes involved and show activation of LINE2 transposable elements on regeneration.

A massive star at a redshift of 6.2, corresponding to 900 million years after the Big Bang, is magnified greatly by lensing of the foreground galaxy cluster WH0137–08.

Observed daily changes in CO₂ emissions from across the globe reveal the sectors and countries where pandemic-related emissions declines were most pronounced in 2020.

A COVID-19 test implemented in an automated microfluidic device and leveraging isothermal RNA amplification followed by T7 transcription and Cas13-mediated cleavage of a quenched fluorophore rapidly detects SARS-CoV-2 RNA in saliva samples.

The BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network has constructed a multimodal cell census and atlas of the mammalian primary motor cortex in a landmark effort towards understanding brain cell-type diversity, neural circuit organization and brain function.

Individual layers of FeSe grown on SrTiO3 superconduct at far higher temperatures than in bulk, but the effect of the film-substrate interface is poorly understood. Peng et al. find that modifying this interface has a significant non-trivial effect on the superconducting characteristics of FeSe films.

Cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) are important in the control of HIV and some HLA alleles are associated with protection or susceptibility to disease. Here the authors characterise an epitope where variants bind to HLA-B57 or HLA-B53 and they characterise the structural and functional TCR recognition differences.

De novo genome assemblies of four European flint maize lines and comparison with two US Corn Belt genomes provide insights into the dynamics of intraspecies variation in repeat and gene content in maize genomes.

The Himalaya grow as the Indian Plate is thrust beneath Tibet. Analysis of surface deformation caused by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake suggests slip on smaller-scale faults at the foot of the high Himalaya help build Earth’s highest peaks.

Deploying two unrelated CRISPR nucleases in tandem, with multiplexed CRISPR RNAs and a chemically stabilized activator, creates a simple, one-step assay that can rapidly detect attomolar concentrations of RNA without needing target amplification.

Few structural isomers of colloids, with identical masses but different structures, have been identified. Here, the authors observe an interesting example of structural isomerism in a pair of semiconductor magic-size clusters, which reversibly transform between one another with first-order unimolecular reaction kinetics.

Understanding the parameters which govern the size of a skyrmion are important to gain greater control over their stability and dynamics but the underlying mechanisms differ from individual skyrmions to skyrmion crystals. To this end, using micromagnetic simulations, the authors theoretically investigate the relationship between the underlying material parameters and skyrmion radius within a skyrmion crystal

Experiments at the Joint European Torus tokamak show improved thermal ion confinement in the presence of highly energetic ions and Alfvénic instabilities in the plasma.

Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer mass spectra of ice grains emitted by Enceladus show the presence of sodium phosphates, suggesting that phosphorus is readily available in Enceladus’s ocean in the form of orthophosphates.

Thalamic spindle activities may support memory consolidation. Here the authors show that optogenetically-evoked somatosensory thalamic spindle-like activity enhances memory performance in male rats.

Analysis of whole-genome sequencing data across 2,658 tumors spanning 38 cancer types shows that chromothripsis is pervasive, with a frequency of more than 50% in several cancer types, contributing to oncogene amplification, gene inactivation and cancer genome evolution.

Direct elevation of heart rate using noninvasive optogenetics in mice influences anxiety-like behaviours in specific environmental contexts, and the posterior insular cortex is implicated in this integration of signals from the heart with environmental risk information.

A multilayer system based on Ir/Fe/Co/Pt repetitions is found to host magnetic skyrmions at room temperature, while allowing control of the skyrmions’ properties such as size and density.

Confining plasma and managing disruptions in tokamak devices is a challenge. Here the authors demonstrate a method predicting and possibly preventing disruptions and macroscopic instabilities in tokamak plasma using data from JET.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor (VIP1R) is a widely expressed class B G protein-coupled receptor and a drug target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here authors report a cryoelectron microscopy structure of human VIP1R bound to PACAP27 and Gs heterotrimer, which provides insights into PACAP27 binding and VIP receptor activation.

Visualizing single genomic loci in living cells remains technically challenging. Here the authors adopt a strategy of labelling a pair of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) with differently coloured quantum dots and use them to identify integrated HIV-1 proviral DNA sequences in living cells.

This protocol describes a dynamic atomic force microscopy (dAFM) approach for high-speed and high-resolution mapping of the viscoelastic properties of live cells. The procedure describes sample preparation, AFM calibration, and data analysis.

Ion-selective membranes are widely used for water purification and electrochemical energy devices but designing their pore architectures is challenging. Membranes with narrow channels and hydrophilic functionality are shown to exhibit salt ions transport and selectivity towards small organic molecules.

The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and treatment resistance is unclear. Here, the authors use transcriptome sequencing of matched normal, primary, and metastatic CRC tissues to discover and validate that lncRNA RAMS11 promotes metastasis and resistance to topoisomerase inhibitors in mCRC.

Chromosome-scale sequence assemblies of 20 diverse varieties of barley are used to construct a first-generation pan-genome, revealing previously hidden genetic variation that can be used by studies aimed at crop improvement

Completion of genome sequences for the diploid Setaria italica reveals features of C₄ photosynthesis that could enable improvement of the polyploid biofuel crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). The genetic basis of biotechnologically relevant traits, including drought tolerance, photosynthetic efficiency and flowering control, is also highlighted.

Lithium-rich cathode materials in which manganese undergoes double redox could point the way for lithium-ion batteries to meet the capacity and energy density needs of portable electronics and electric vehicles.

Friction and wear at the atomic scale are hard to capture in experiment. Real-time in situ investigations of the countermotion of two touching tungsten asperities by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy unveil discrete stick–slip friction and molecular dynamics simulations provide insights into the sliding pathway of the atoms at the interface.