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The COMPASSION16 trial showed survival benefits of cadonilimab plus standard therapy in advanced cervical cancer. Here, subgroup analysis confirms consistent progression-free and overall survival improvements across diverse patient profiles.

Cultivated banana is threatened by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (TR4). In this study, the authors assemble the genome of Musa cheesmanii, a wild banana species that is highly resistant to TR4, and use it in crossbreeding with two cultivars to enhance disease resistance.

Major depressive disorder involves disrupted molecular polarity homeostasis, with conventional antidepressants hindered by delayed onset and drug resistance. Here, the authors engineered near-infrared-responsive IC@His-ICG nanomotors for photochemical polarity switching, achieving targeted hippocampal neuromodulation in rodents to restore monoamine balance and relieve depression/anxiety.

Electronic chirality is a fascinating but still poorly understood phenomenon. Here, the authors show that CuPc molecules on bilayer graphene exhibit electronic chirality driven by twisted π–π interactions, which can be reversibly switched using an STM tip.

Machine learning upscaling analyses of global FLUXNET carbon and water flux measurements indicate that dryland vegetation productivity showed a negligible increase between 1982–2000 and 2001–2022, whereas humid-region vegetation productivity exhibited a nearly constant increase.

A clinical trial testing whether monitoring ctDNA clearance during treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer could be used to inform decisions about an individual’s subsequent therapeutic programme shows promising results.

Efforts to develop P2X7 drugs are hampered by species differences. Here, authors reveal the structural basis for these disparities and show that transgenic mice provide a powerful model for testing selective inhibitors with greater clinical relevance.

Ubiquitin tagging controls protein fate, but how the COP1-DET1 E3 ligase works was unclear. Here, the authors present cryo-EM structures of an inactive stacked assembly that switches to an active dimer on substrate binding, with DET1 guiding enzymes to start and co-workers to extend ubiquitin chains.

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction impairs bladder sensation and contraction. Here, the authors report an implantable soft bladder-machine interface that integrates with the bladder providing monitoring and electrical stimulation.

In vivo base editing of a causative mutation that leads to the neurodevelopmental disorder Snijders Blok–Campeau syndrome restores protein dosage and ameliorates molecular and behavioural deficits in a humanized mouse model of the condition.

Cascaded nonlinear optics has long enabled advances in short-wavelength generation, but equivalent approaches for long wavelengths remain underdeveloped. Here, the authors demonstrate a chip-based lithium niobate platform that delivers tunable mid-infrared light, opening new possibilities for sensing, spectroscopy, and communications.

Dang et al. integrate GWAS with functional genomics to analyze 15 common autoimmune diseases, mapping interconnections and differences in target genes, association signals, and the immune cell types in which signals act. They show cell-type-specific signals within loci, prioritize associated genes, and identify shared and distinct functional modules, clarifying regulatory mechanisms.

The ~200-Myr-old star TOI-2076 hosts a young four-planet system, the orbits and atmospheres of which are still evolving, showing signs of early dynamical reshaping and atmospheric sculpting and offering a rare glimpse of how planetary systems form and transform in their youth.

Tropical cyclones cool the ocean surface less than previously thought, indicating that current projections may underestimate their future intensity and frequency, according to an analysis of global sea surface drifters data over 1992–2021.

The mechanisms and kinetics behind the anti-sintering behavior of supported metal nanoparticles under ultrafast heating remain unclear. Here, in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy and theoretical analysis reveal an ultrafast-heating–induced metastable state that suppresses thermal sintering while enhancing crystallinity of the metal nanoparticles and their interfaces.

Graphene is often used as parts of electrodes in batteries and stacking of graphene layers is problematic. Here, Zhao et al.synthesize graphene on mesoporous layered double oxide flakes so that the stacking is effectively prevented, and show high-rate performance when used in Li–S batteries.

Metastatic cancer cells rely on metabolic flexibility to survive. Here, the authors show that metastatic breast cancer cells use lactate for mitochondrial oxidation via the CD147/MCT1/LDHB complex to sustain stemness and promote metastasis.

Bioresorbable piezoelectric materials are key for bioelectronic–tissue integration but remain challenging to realize. Here, the authors develop flexible Rochelle salt/PLLA nanofibers that enable effective nerve regeneration and wireless monitoring of intestinal motility.

Administrative-driven hierarchical management (ADHM) encourages general practitioners to act as voluntary gatekeepers in China’s non-mandatory medical system. Here the authors show that ADHM lowers cardiovascular events, mortality, and healthcare costs in atrial fibrillation patients compared with usual care.

A four-qubit quantum error detection circuit with stabilizers can be implemented with spin qubits in a donor-based silicon quantum processor.

This study introduces a flexible, wearable system using a liquid metal dynamic wetting strategy to capture palm and finger movements in real time with high precision, showing potential for applications in XR, teleoperation, and robotics.

The non-classical oriented attachment crystallization pathway explains the growth of many nanocrystals. Here, the authors study citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles by in-situ liquid transmission electron microscopy to reveal that surface ligands are a critical driving force in the oriented attachment process.

Conventional hemodialysis devices are limited by their need for large dialysate volumes, which restricts portability. This study introduces a dialysate-free wearable artificial kidney prototype that uses gas-permeable, blood-repellent membranes for vapor-gradient-driven water removal and integrated adsorption for toxin clearance, offering a promising technology for portable blood purification.

Photonic memristor arrays fabricated from hexagonal boron nitride/silicon heterostructures provide a scalable, silicon-compatible solution for artificial vision systems, featuring broad spectral reconfigurability and promising performance characteristics.

Controllable and scalable phase transition of transition metal chalcogenides is challenging. Using in situ microscopic analysis, a non-stoichiometric phase transition from PdTe₂ to PdTe is observed on the atomic scale, providing mechanistic insights into the scalable phase engineering of transition metal chalcogenide films and heterostructures.

Chemical language models trained on known metabolites can identify previously unknown metabolites from mass spectrometry-based metabolomics data with high accuracy.

Tunability of ferroelectric domain structure is significant in ferroelectric materials. Here, the authors present in-plane ferroelectricity in 2D Bi₂TeO₅ in which the ferroelectric domain size and shape can be continuously tuned by the Bi/Te ratio.

Under sustained high greenhouse-gas emissions, the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) may weaken and eventually disappear, potentially reducing short-term climate predictability, highlighting the risks of continued emissions for the middle and upper atmosphere.

Teng and Zeng et al. use cryo-electron microscopy to show that the crescent scaffold of KICSTOR anchors GATOR1 to lysosomes and disruption of the interaction causes mTORC1 hyperactivation and TFE3 mislocalization. KICSTOR enables nutrient-dependent mTORC1 regulation by binding anionic lipids for lysosomal targeting.

In this new instalment of our Career Pathways series, Marina García-Macia and Fei Yin highlight the impact and joys of building a team and share with us key milestones that have shaped their careers so far, including the importance of making the most of every situation, finding the right mentors, and pursuing the questions that they are passionate about.

The balance between apoptosis and autophagy is critical for normal development, proper tissue function, and disease pathogenesis. Here, the authors show previously unannotated BIRC6 domains, including a ubiquitin-like domain, and how it utilizes its ubiquitylation function to regulate both apoptosis and autophagy.

Su, Deng, et al. develop machine learning models using multi-center clinical, molecular, and radiotherapy data from medulloblastoma patients to predict survival. Robust predictive performance is achieved across four application scenarios, identifying radiotherapy dose and key genetic events as critical for individualized clinical management.

A black phosphorus/Al₂O₃/black phosphorus heterostructure can be used to create a tunnel field-effect transistor in which the tunnelling current is in the transverse direction with respect to the drive current, leading to abrupt switching and a negative differential resistance with a peak-to-valley ratio of more than 100 at room temperature.

The extreme hot and dry conditions of 2023 reduced soil respiration and enhanced net forest carbon sequestration in Canada, offsetting wildfire emissions, according to satellite-based and in situ observations of CO₂ fluxes.

Liu et al. report Chinese normative lifespan brain charts showing later neurodevelopmental milestones than those detected in Western cohorts. Individual deviations from these norms are valuable in assessing clinical risk and outcomes.

Cas9-based genome editing tools face challenges for efficient in vivo delivery due to their large size. Here, the authors present a set of compact genome-editing tools engineered from a CRISPR-associated IscB system which exhibit robust editing efficiency in human cells and mouse embryos.

Catalytic syngas conversion is an essential part of sustainable chemical production but is hindered by the trade-off between conversion activity and product selectivity. Here the authors address this challenge by developing a catalytic shunt strategy.

The transformation of CO2 with renewable hydrogen into high-value products presents a sustainable route for net-zero chemical manufacture. Here the authors introduce a LaFeO3 perovskite-mediated tandem conversion of CO2, achieving remarkable performance by separating the CO2 hydrogenation and C-C coupling domains in the catalyst system.

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus imports glucose via the bacterial mannose phosphotransferase system (PTS_man), which inhibits stringent response, supports growth in cerebrospinal fluid and promotes brain damage during meningitis.

The characterization of 4,645 whole-genome and 19,184 exome sequences, covering most types of cancer, identifies 81 single-base substitution, doublet-base substitution and small-insertion-and-deletion mutational signatures, providing a systematic overview of the mutational processes that contribute to cancer development.

A soft, stretchable and freely movable fibre sensor called NeuroWorm, inspired by earthworms and that can be magnetically steered through soft tissue, is described as a new platform for dynamic bioelectrical and biomechanical monitoring.

Developing low-temperature solution epitaxy and elucidating its underlying mechanisms is highly desired for low-cost fabrication of single-crystal ferroelectric films. Here, the authors show that a polarization screening between ferroelectrics and substrates can tailor the interface energy and drive the solution epitaxy of polarization-gradient ferroelectric oxide films, demonstrating a remarkable photovoltaic effect.

The biological clock model LifeClock predicts biological age across all life stages from routine clinical data, revealing distinct pediatric and adult disease risk patterns.

Li₅FeO₄ is a high-capacity prelithiation agent but suffers from poor air stability. Here, authors apply a carbon coating strategy to significantly improve its resistance to moisture, enabling over 92% capacity retention after 72 h exposure to ambient air.

Previous clinical studies suggested that Insulin-like growth factor binding-protein 7 (IGFBP7) is elevated in early stages of diabetes. Here authors showed tubule and glomerular-specific IGFBP7 promotes diabetic kidney disease.

Ba et al. report a scalable approach combining two-phase driving and Langmuir–Schaefer deposition, enabling colloidal quantum well films with 90% horizontal dipole alignment, yielding red LEDs with EQE of 25.5%, luminance of 59,620 cd m⁻², stability over 16,233 h, and maintaining the luminance when scaling the device area to 4 cm².

Disorder has emerged as a promising tool to manipulate properties of superconducting circuits. Here the authors demonstrate the use of disordered spinodal superconductor for fluxonium qubit fabrication and reveal an interesting correlation between the material disorder and the 1/f-type flux noise.