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Polygenic risk scores for Alzheimer’s disease derived from individuals of European ancestry can show improved performance in multiancestry settings after incorporating genome-wide association summary statistics from diverse populations.

Materials popular for insulation and noise reduction are typically derived from petroleum or minerals or have other environmental costs. This study reports a scalable material for thermal insulation and noise reduction derived from treated wood.

An investigation using various methods reports an association between adeno-associated virus 2 and paediatric hepatitis of unknown aetiology.

A new GWAS of schizophrenia (11,260 cases and 24,542 controls) and meta-analysis identifies 50 new associated loci and 145 loci in total. The common variant association signal is highly enriched in mutation-intolerant genes and in regions under strong background selection.

Deforestation is often driven by land conversion for growing commodity crops. This study finds that, between 2000 and 2019, most soybean expansion in South America was on pastures converted originally for cattle production, especially in the Brazilian Amazon. More soy-driven deforestation occurred in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Powerful gene-editing tool could help to diagnose illnesses such as Lassa fever early and rein in the spread of infection.

Septins are GTP-binding proteins involved in diverse cellular processes including division, polarity maintenance and membrane remodeling. Here authors use high-speed atomic force microscopy to show that assembly of septin filaments is a diffusion-driven process, while septin assembly into higher-order involves septin self-templating

López and Johnson et al. used quantitative mass spectrometry to measure changes in protein expression in the nucleus accumbens that were induced by cocaine self-administration in mice. They demonstrated differential effects on protein expression between males and females that eliminated the sex differences observed under basal conditions.

Using a CdTe_xSe_1−x alloy in CdTe solar cells leads to better performances. Here, Poplawsky et al. show that the photoactive properties of the alloy depend on its chemical composition and structural properties, and derive a phase diagram to further optimize alloy growth for photovoltaic devices.

Genome-wide association analyses of 41,917 bipolar disorder cases and 371,549 controls of European ancestry provide new insights into the etiology of this disorder and identify novel therapeutic leads and potential opportunities for drug repurposing.

Genome-wide ancient DNA data from individuals from the Middle Bronze Age to Iron Age documents large-scale movement of people from the European continent between 1300 and 800 bc that was probably responsible for spreading early Celtic languages to Britain.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias identifies new loci and enables generation of a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Pooled loss-of-function CRISPR screens in primary human T cells identify upstream regulators of IL2RA, IL-2 and CTLA4. Individual knockouts of 24 regulators of IL2RA define a central network enriched for genes associated with immune-mediated diseases.

A case–control study investigating the causes of recent cases of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in 32 children identifies an association between adeno-associated virus infection and host genetics in disease susceptibility.

Students at Concordian International School (aged 15–17, Thailand) ask Prof. Jaffe how policymakers determine and weigh the economic, social and environmental impacts of a policy proposal. 

Large genome-wide meta-analysis of clinically diagnosed late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) from 94,437 individuals identifies new LOAD risk loci and implicates Aβ formation, tau protein binding, immune response and lipid metabolism.

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori, often found in the human stomach, can be classified into distinct subpopulations associated with the geographic origin of the host. Here, the authors provide insights into H. pylori population structure by collecting over 1,000 clinical strains from 50 countries and generating and analyzing high-quality bacterial genome sequences.

A variant of group A Streptococcus serotype M1 (UK) has been increasingly reported and can be differentiated from the global variant by its overexpression of the superantigen SpeA. Here, Davies et al probe the mechanism behind enhanced SpeA expression and demonstrate that a SNP in the 5’ leader sequence of ssrA is responsible for this virulence phenotype.

The three-drug regimen cured 90% of people who had the deadliest form of the disease in a clinical trial.

Brain and skull development are intimately related across tetrapods. Here, the authors show a close relationship between brain and skull roof across evolutionary transitions and ontogenetic stages of reptiles.

A bedside-to-bench analysis identifies single-chain variable fragment linker length as an important component of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) structure and suggests that, in contrast to CD28-based CAR T cells, tonic signaling can be beneficial for 4-1BB-based CAR T cell function.

Charity failed to provide adequate vaccines for the global south. Now, 15 countries are seeing whether an open-science model can end a dangerous legacy of dependency.

Lawsuits in India and Argentina seek to reduce drug costs by allowing generic versions of antiviral treatments.

Data transparency is key to accounting for how local governments and the private sector are contributing to global emissions reduction, say Angel Hsu and colleagues.

Veterinary expertise is an advantage for researchers hoping to stem disease outbreaks and bolster food safety.

A non-profit organization is proving that new drugs don't have to cost a fortune. Can its model work more broadly?

Understanding the genetic basis of cognitive traits could aid the development of numeracy and literacy skills in children. Here the authors show that reading and mathematics have a large overlapping genetic component and suggest that a child's learning environment has a key role in creating differences between them.

Artemisinin-resistantPlasmodium is an increasing problem. Here, using a medicinal chemistry programme, the authors identify a tetraoxane-based drug candidate that shows no cross-resistance with an artemisinin-resistant strain (PfK13-C580Y) and is efficient in Plasmodiummouse models.

Drug companies and wealthy countries are facing increased pressure to partner with firms in the global south but are reluctant to relinquish control.

Richard Houlston and colleagues report results of a genome-wide association study of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Identified risk loci include IKZF1 on 7p12.2 and ARID5B on 10q21.2, which encode transcription factors involved in the differentiation of B-cell progenitors.

The properties of actinide complexes depend on the ionic versus covalent nature of the bonds. Here, the authors report that pressure can distort actinide-oxygen bonding; differences seen for Th, U and Np result from the decreasing size of the atoms.

Former Nigeria CDC leader Chikwe Ihekweazu talks with Nature about the COVID crisis, and strengthening global response to future public-health emergencies.

Sexual dimorphism in genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren’s syndrome is linked to differential protein abundance from alleles of complement component 4.

The authors previously showed that a histidine nucleophile and a flexible arginine can work in synergy to accelerate the Morita Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction. Here, they report another efficient MBHase that employs a non-canonical N_δ-methylhistidine nucleophile paired with a catalytic glutamate, providing an alternative mechanistic solution for MBH catalysis.

Sven van der Lee, Julie Williams, Gerard Schellenberg and colleagues identify rare coding variants in PLCG2, ABI3 and TREM2 associated with Alzheimer's disease. These genes are highly expressed in microglia and provide additional evidence that the microglia-mediated immune response contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

When listening to a story, humans learn about its structure and content. Here the authors reveal the neural processes behind episodic memory and predictive recall at a fine temporal scale in this naturalistic setting

Strengthen markets, measures and definitions for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to fight climate change.

Genome-wide analysis identifies 30 loci associated with bipolar disorder, allowing for comparisons of shared genes and pathways with other psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and depression.

Funding for the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health would hold steady after Congress agrees to lift spending caps, but details are fuzzy.

Approval of a ‘biologic’ manufactured in plant cells may pave the way for similar products.

World Health Organization advisory committee endorses use of the RTS,S vaccine in small-scale demonstrations.