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Low carrier mobility and degradation over time are key challenges to address in metal-halide perovskite photodetectors. Here, ultrasensitive photodetectors are reported based on inkjet-printed nanocrystalline films of a mixed-phase raisin bread halide perovskite, integrated on a graphene platform.

Heller et al. showed dense longitudinal imaging in four females, including one with endometriosis and one using oral contraceptives, and the finding that different hormonal milieus influence widespread brain volume changes linked to progesterone or estradiol.

A study of several longitudinal birth cohorts and cross-sectional cohorts finds only moderate overlap in genetic variants between autism that is diagnosed earlier and that diagnosed later, so they may represent aetiologically different conditions.

The authors report a new species of theropod dinosaur from the Triassic Period of Argentina. Despite being one of the earliest theropods, Anteavis crurilongus has derived features more in line with Neotheropoda.

An analysis of 24,202 critical cases of COVID-19 identifies potentially druggable targets in inflammatory signalling (JAK1), monocyte–macrophage activation and endothelial permeability (PDE4A), immunometabolism (SLC2A5 and AK5), and host factors required for viral entry and replication (TMPRSS2 and RAB2A).

Although DNA nanotechnology has found many applications in developing functional structures, there has never been an independent device contained within a 3D crystal. Now, a self-assembled three-state device that can change the colour of its crystal by diffusion of DNA-ligated dyes has been reported, representing the potential to develop programmable nanomechanical devices.

CRISPR-Cas9 has potential as an efficient tool for information retrieval in DNA data storage. Here the authors present a Cas9-based random access and similarity search approach and test on DNA databases, progressing toward simpler, isothermal protocols.

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

Pampols-Perez et al. identify the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO2 as a novel marker for embryonic coronary artery endothelial cells and as a critical regulator of coronary vascular remodeling. They show that in a distinct subset of coronary endothelial cells, PIEZO2 translates mechanically activated ionic currents into biological signals guiding coronary artery morphogenesis.

One of the main differences between the mouse and human genomes lies in the activity of 'junk' DNA sequences called retrotransposons. Carina Dennis considers what these sequences might be doing.

Spatial molecular imaging analysis of human pancreatic adenocarcinomas describes multicellular neighborhoods in the tumor microenvironment. Ligand–receptor analysis using optimal transport-based SCOTIA identifies interleukin-6 as a mediator of chemoresistance.

There's more to ecology than ringing birds, and in this special section Nature explores how the molecular sciences are transforming the field. In the first of two features, Sharon Levy explored how atoms in feathers can reveal the secrets of rare warblers. In this, the second, Carina Dennis unveils a technique that aims to make killing whales for science a thing of the past.

Whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome-wide association and fine-mapping analyses in over 7,000 individuals with critical COVID-19 are used to identify 16 independent variants that are associated with severe illness in COVID-19.

Kinase inhibitors are widely used to treat cancer, however patients frequently develop resistance. Here, the authors investigate adaption mechanisms during drug persistence and show that stimulation of the innate immunity sensor RIG-I enhances cancer cell death when combined with kinase inhibition.

varVAMP is open-source software for designing primers for tiled-amplicon sequencing and qPCR. It simplifies primer design for viral pathogens with high genomic variability by including sequence variations into primer sequences.

A study reporting the results of a clinical trial co-administering the GDF-15-blocking antibody visugromab with the anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab demonstrates that neutralizing GDF-15 can overcome resistance to immune checkpoint inhibition in cancer.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide analyses identify 95 loci associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and implicate candidate genes, pathways and neurobiological systems underlying its pathophysiology.

As a child, geneticist Mario Capecchi had to fight for survival after his mother was imprisoned by the Nazis. He tells his story to Carina Dennis, hoping to inspire others from a disadvantaged background.

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.

Higgins et al. present an AI tool that uses patient data to personalise treatment for Helicobacter pylori, the leading agent of gastric cancer, demonstrating improved eradication rates over prescribed therapies in retrospective clinical analysis.

Graphite, one of the oldest known dry lubricants, loses its friction-reducing properties in dry environments. Here, the authors show that this effect is associated with both chemical modifications of the surfaces and a structural transformation of the graphite to turbostratic carbon.

The scarcity of targetable proteins broadly expressed on cancer cells, but not on healthy cells, is an obstacle for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. Here the authors establish that a functionally impaired version of P2X purinoceptor 7, non-functional P2X7 (nfP2X7), fulfils these criteria, and demonstrate that CAR-T cells targeting nfP2X7 efficiently and selectively kill breast and prostate cancer cells in mouse models.

Motile cilia are thought of as signaling-inert nanomotors. Here, the authors show that motile cilia transduce a Wnt-protein phosphatase 1 signal that regulates cilia biogenesis and ciliary beating in Xenopus embryos and in human airway epithelia.

The degree to which species tolerate human disturbance contributes to shape human-wildlife coexistence. Here, the authors identify key predictors of avian tolerance of humans across 842 bird species from open tropical ecosystems.

Dewald et al. show a high Spike-IgG seroprevalence (95%) in a multicenter study with 1,411 participants. They determined a substantially reduced serum neutralization against the SARS-CoV-2 VOCs BA.4/5 and BQ.1.1. and explored predictive factors of neutralizing activity.

Kdm1a is a histone demethylase implicated in intellectual disability. Here, the authors show that removing Kdm1a in neurons of the adult mouse forebrain disrupts silencing of nonneuronal genes and chromatin organization, emphasizing its role in preserving neuronal genome integrity.

Changes to the genome that don't affect DNA sequence may help to explain differences between genetically identical twins. Might these 'epigenetic' phenomena also underlie common diseases? Carina Dennis investigates.

Some pioneering biologists are trying to grow eggs and sperm in the lab. In doing so, they're entering a technical and ethical minefield. Carina Dennis reports.

SARS-CoV-2 is shown to infect and replicate in human pancreatic tissue, including in β-cells, which is associated with morphological, transcriptomic and functional changes.

Affinity chromatography allows for the separation of biomolecules such as proteins, based on a change in the chemical solvent composition and the resulting impacts on ligand binding. Here, authors introduce a physical principle by exploiting the light-dependent interaction between the Azo-tag and an α- CD chromatography matrix.

The seeding of native species is critical to the success of dryland restoration efforts. Here the authors evaluate success of seeding establishment at 174 sites on six continents, finding that some sites had nearly 100% of species successfully recruit, while 17% of sites had zero seedling success.

Targeting of diseased cells is key to the development of next-generation pharmaceuticals, but is often hindered by a lack of specific cell surface markers. Here the authors develop an RNA-based approach, which allows precise control of gene expression, with translation only occurring within preselected cell types of interest.

A series of fluorescent probes is designed that act as dual agonists on both GLP1 and GIP receptors, and are used to image receptor binding activities in tissues and animals.

The expression of oncogenic MYC paralogs in small cell lung cancer is mutually exclusive. In this study, the authors show that MYC, but not MYCN or MYCL, represses BCL2, resulting in cells that are uniquely sensitive to apoptosis, and find that CHK1 and AURKA inhibitors may be useful for treating these cancers.

Cancer liver metastases can be encapsulated by a fibrotic stroma. Here the authors use digital pathology to generate spatial growth pattern maps of colorectal cancer liver metastasis and show that prognosis depends on the degree of fibrotic encapsulation.

Increases in transcriptional elongation speed with age affect organismal lifespan and ageing-related changes could be reversed with lifespan-extending interventions.

How mechanical forces drive fluid transport in the kidney remains unclear. Here, the authors use a microfluidic platform to show that kidney epithelial cells generate hydraulic pressure gradients across the epithelium, and that the fluid flux is from apical to basal for normal cells, and inverted in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease cells.

Dewald et al. combine a non-invasive sampling approach (Lolli-Test) with an RT qPCR-pool testing strategy to screen for SARS-CoV-2 infections in children and use the method for surveillance and infection control in > 4000 school and daycare settings.

Targeting the glycolytic PFKFB3 enzyme is being studied as a therapeutic strategy against cancer. Here the authors identify PFKFB3 as being involved in homologous recombination (HR) repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and present a PFKFB3 inhibitor.

Current laws only allow the use of excess embryos.

The development of pan-Arctic Ocean ice shelves during peak glacials was proposed in the 1970s, an idea that has been disputed due to lack of evidence. Here, the authors present geophysical mapping data supporting the presence of such an ice shelf during the peak of the penultimate glaciation ∼140–160 ka.

Glucocorticoids reprogram the mitochondrial metabolism of macrophages, resulting in increased and sustained production of the anti-inflammatory metabolite itaconate and, as a consequence, inhibition of the inflammatory response.

The small molecule GS-6207, which disrupts the function of the HIV capsid protein, shows potential as a long-acting therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection.