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The soils of urban greenspaces are strikingly rich. This study finds that the variety of microbial life there is linked to acidic conditions and that this diversity is more homogenous than found in farmland soils.

Xue et al. report self-powered photoelectrochemical photodetectors based on CuOx decorated AlGaN nanowires with staggered energy band structure. High-energy photons can be absorbed by CuOx to trigger the multiexciton generation effect, enabling an external quantum efficiency of 131.5% at 255 nm.

Biotic-abiotic hybrid systems are promising for solar-to-chemical conversion, but it remains challenging to achieve atomically precise interface contact. Here, the authors report a general strategy of facilitating direct electron uptake via building single-atom bridges across biotic-abiotic interfaces to enhance solar-driven hydrogen production.

Membrane protein dimerization is a regulatory mechanism in cell signaling. Here, the authors introduce a single-molecule tweezer platform to resolve transient intermediate states and quantify the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters underlying dimerization in lipid bilayers.

The properties of many high-temperature superconductors are governed by holes rather than electrons. Gauquelin et al. use atomic resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy to study the effect of oxygen doping on the valence of Cu ions and local electronic structure around the oxygen atoms in YBa₂Cu₃O_6+δ.

Replacing animal feathers and wool with synthetic materials can ameliorate the ethical and environmental issues associated with the production of clothing designed to retain warmth. Here the authors present synthetic nanofibre textiles that combine wearability, comfort, lightness and thermal insulation.

The primary entry route of vanilloid ligands to the vanilloid-binding site in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is found to be a distinct and targetable hydrophobic pathway at the TRPV1–cell membrane interface rather than through direct membrane penetration.

A post-translational backbone extension acyl rearrangement (BEAR) reaction has now been developed that converts a ribosomal protein product into a new product containing a β-peptide, γ-peptide or δ-peptide backbone. BEAR reactions represent a general strategy to install extended backbones into genetically encoded proteins and peptides expressed in cells.

The understanding of the reemergence of pressure induced superconductivity in alkali-metal intercalated FeSe is hampered by sample complexities. Here, Sun et al. report the electronic properties of (Li_1–xFe _x )OHFe_1–ySe single crystal not only in the reemerged superconducting state but also in the normal state.

Zhang et al. show that YAP binds to TDP-43 to promote TDP-43 multimerization and phase separation. YAP and TDP-43 may co-localize in multiple cell types in oxidative stress and in brain samples from individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Spatial multiomics methods have deepened our understanding of cellular niches within the tumour microenvironment, but deriving clinical insights remains challenging. Here, the authors develop stClinic, a dynamic graph model that integrates spatial multi-slice multiomics data with phenotype data to reveal clinically relevant cell niches in cancer.

Nickel(II) dihalide precatalysts with bidentate nitrogen ligands are widely used in cross-coupling reactions, notably in combination with photosensitizers, forming catalytic systems that currently drive major conceptual and synthetic thrusts within organic chemistry. Here the authors show a general mechanism by which these precatalysts are converted to the reduced, catalytically active species, using a range of characterization and spectroscopic techniques.

Integrative analyses of transcriptome and whole-genome sequencing data for 1,188 tumours across 27 types of cancer are used to provide a comprehensive catalogue of RNA-level alterations in cancer.

Analysis of whole-genome sequencing data from 3,023 human genomes from mainland Southeast Asia identifies high genetic heterogeneity among populations in the region and many unique small and structural variants.

Nickelate superconductors attract enormous attention in the field of high-temperature superconductivity. Here the authors report observation of perfect diamagnetism and interfacial effect on the electronic structures in infinite layer Nd_0.8Sr_0.2NiO₂ superconductors.

Colour code on a superconducting qubit quantum processor is demonstrated, reporting above-breakeven performance and logical error scaling with increased code size by a factor of 1.56 moving from distance-3 to distance-5 code.

Entanglement was observed in top–antitop quark events by the ATLAS experiment produced at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN using a proton–proton collision dataset with a centre-of-mass energy of √s  = 13 TeV and an integrated luminosity of 140 fb⁻¹.

In this Consensus Statement, a consortium of microbiome scientists discuss current sequencing data sharing policies and propose the use of a Data Reuse Information (DRI) tag to promote equitable and collaborative data sharing.

DNA transactions promote torsional constraints that pose inherent risks to genome integrity. Here the authors identify the macro-histone splice variant macroH2A1.1 as an epigenetic modulator of topoisomerase 1-associated genome maintenance. MacroH2A1.1 expression determines sensitivity to TOP1 poisons and may present a cancer vulnerability.

Analysis of cancer genome sequencing data has enabled the discovery of driver mutations. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium the authors present DriverPower, a software package that identifies coding and non-coding driver mutations within cancer whole genomes via consideration of mutational burden and functional impact evidence.

It is extremely difficult to separate tritium from radioactively contaminated water. Here the authors introduce catalytic hydrogen isotope exchange to water distillation, realizing excellent detritiation performance.

Study shows PTSD predisposition shares distinct genes and genomic regions with several cardiovascular conditions. Here the findings reveal neuronal, immune, and metabolic pathways, and repurposed drug targets that further the understanding of the comorbidity.

Analyses of 2,658 whole genomes across 38 types of cancer identify the contribution of non-coding point mutations and structural variants to driving cancer.

Complete sequences of chromosomes telomere-to-telomere from chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, Bornean orangutan, Sumatran orangutan and siamang provide a comprehensive and valuable resource for future evolutionary comparisons.

Origami-based soft robotic manipulators offer compactness, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, but challenges related to stiffness, precision, and dexterity remain. To address these issues, the authors introduce the Micro-X4, a 4-degree-of-freedom origami micromanipulator that is capable of achieving three-dimensional translational motion, along with rotation around the central axis of the moving platform.

A key challenge in robotics is leveraging pre-training as a form of knowledge to generate movements. The authors propose a general learning framework for reusing pre-trained knowledge across different perception and task levels. The deployed robots exhibit lifelike agility and sophisticated game-playing strategies.

Wafer-scale 3R-MoS₂ with high phase purity is achieved through a homoepitaxy strategy, which demonstrates ferroelectricity and holds promise for multifunctional integration.

Understanding who is being left behind, where and how is crucial to advancing the United Nations’ commitment to ‘leaving no one behind’. This study maps urban slums and wealth distribution across 32 sub-Saharan African countries, revealing a decreasing proportion of the population living in slums, yet a concerning rise in wealth inequality.

The authors present SVclone, a computational method for inferring the cancer cell fraction of structural variants from whole-genome sequencing data.

Phase transitions in topologically non-trivial systems are characterized by changes of topological invariants, rather than conventional order parameters. Here, the authors propose a real-space topological phase transition upon pair annihilation of emergent monopoles inherent in chiral magnet MnGe.

Accurate data collection remains challenging in fragile contexts, which are prone to food insecurity. Remote sensing, survey data and deep learning can generate poultry–fish sector production estimates and contribute towards long-term food security monitoring.

Oxygen redox in transition metal oxides enhances the energy content of Na-ion batteries but is typically plagued by poor reversibility. Here, the authors achieve non-hysteresis through the formation of a spin singlet state to stabilize the active oxygen redox reaction in P3-type Na_2/3Cu_1/3Mn_2/3O₂.

Stereoselective synthetic routes use P3HB (a polyester produced by bacteria) as a chiral feedstock for related polymers that have properties more amenable to processing and use.

Due to the pulsed nature of X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) instruments the majority of protein crystals, which are injected using continuous jet injection techniques are wasted. Here, the authors present a microfluidic device to deliver aqueous protein crystal laden droplets segmented with an immiscible oil and demonstrate that with this device an approx. 60% reduction in sample waste was achieved for data collection of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthase crystals at the EuXFEL.

The neural circuits that transmit cool signals remain not fully understood. Here, authors identify a spinal circuit in mice that transmits cool sensations from the skin to the brain, revealing a dedicated neural pathway for detecting innocuous cool temperatures.

Solution-grown perovskite heterojunctions and quantum wells bring new opportunities for exploring semiconductor physics in a convenient manner

With the generation of large pan-cancer whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing projects, a question remains about how comparable these datasets are. Here, using The Cancer Genome Atlas samples analysed as part of the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes project, the authors explore the concordance of mutations called by whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing techniques.

Lilies are perennial plants with ornamental flowers and large genomes. The authors assemble genomes of two Liliales species, analyze lily phylogeny, flower and stem development (bulbs in lilies, rhizomes in flame lilies), bulb growth transitions, and colchicine biosynthesis.

In this study, the authors describe an imaging technology, ¹⁸F-FDS PET, for noninvasive detection, localization and monitoring of invasive mold infections, including Aspergillus, non-Aspergillus and azole-resistant molds, throughout the body.

Multiple resonance (MR) emitters with narrowband luminescence typically suffer from inadequate frontier molecular orbital levels. Here, authors incorporate cyano motifs at peripheral sites of the MR backbone to adjust the energy levels, realizing device efficiency of over 23% for stable devices.

The 4Pi-SIM microscope combines the benefits of structured illumination microscopy with 4Pi geometry for improved axial resolution, offering isotropic, multicolor super-resolution imaging of dynamic processes in living cells.

Observations of γ-rays with energies up to 1.4 PeV find that 12 sources in the Galaxy are PeVatrons, one of which is the Crab Nebula.

Whole-genome sequencing data for 2,778 cancer samples from 2,658 unique donors across 38 cancer types is used to reconstruct the evolutionary history of cancer, revealing that driver mutations can precede diagnosis by several years to decades.

Ferromagnetic systems produced by the transition metal doping of semiconductors may be used as components of spintronic devices. Here, a new ferromagnet, Li_1+y(Zn_1-xMn_x)As, is prepared in bulk quantities and shown to have a critical temperature approaching 50 K.

In a quantum simulation of a (2+1)D lattice gauge theory using a superconducting quantum processor, the dynamics of strings reveal the transition from deconfined to confined excitations as the effective electric field is increased.

Understanding deregulation of biological pathways in cancer can provide insight into disease etiology and potential therapies. Here, as part of the PanCancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) consortium, the authors present pathway and network analysis of 2583 whole cancer genomes from 27 tumour types.

The flagship paper of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes Consortium describes the generation of the integrative analyses of 2,658 cancer whole genomes and their matching normal tissues across 38 tumour types, the structures for international data sharing and standardized analyses, and the main scientific findings from across the consortium studies.