Outlook in 2025

New models, efforts for early detection and better therapies may help change pancreatic cancer’s aggressive course.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies, and it is increasingly occurring in young people — especially women. An uptick in research funding is a welcome development in the push to transform treatment.

A growing body of research suggests tumours rely on proteins and genes that are unique to the nervous system to persist in the body.

Unpacking risk factors, disease aggressiveness and other key work.

Surgeon George Hanna is developing a non-invasive test to catch one of the deadliest cancers before it’s too late.

Cellular, animal and computational models of the disease are providing fresh insights into biology and treatment.

Specific protein targets and personalized vaccines have the potential to increase survival rates for the disease.

The disease is often caught too late to affect a person’s prognosis — scientists are looking to change that.

Urban health and well-being is central to the world’s future prospects

‘Smart cities’ seek to maximize connectivity to improve urban mobility.

As losses owing to flooding rise, some urban centres are ditching the concrete and making space for natural wetlands.

An upgrade to district heating systems brings greater flexibility and efficiency, and is giving gas companies a renewable future.

Buildings made of wood store carbon, instead of adding it to the atmosphere.

Established conventions of urban planning create cities that do not serve everyone equally.

Cutting-edge materials and thoughtful urban planning can help cities beat the negative heating effects of climate change.

Landscape architect and neuroscientist Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo explains how she measures and optimizes the mental-health benefits of urban spaces.

Despite advances, AI models continue to be geared towards the needs of English-speaking people in high-income countries.

Bacteria, viruses and fungi that colonize the body — including some that live directly on eye surfaces — can have an important role in eye health.

Artificial intelligence is flying high. Nature asked leading innovators what they think will happen next.

Architects and microbiologists are exploring whether making buildings hospitable to friendly microorganisms can improve human health.