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The Ocean Equity Index provides a systematic, twelve-criteria framework to assess and improve equity in ocean initiatives, projects and policies, producing structured data that guide evidence-based decisions and support more equitable outcomes for coastal communities and ecosystems.

Humanity’s Last Exam, a multi-modal benchmark at the frontier of human knowledge, is designed to be an expert-level closed-ended academic benchmark with broad subject coverage.

Analysis combining multiple global tree databases reveals that whether a location is invaded by non-native tree species depends on anthropogenic factors, but the severity of the invasion depends on the native species diversity.

Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study reveal declines in chronic respiratory disease mortality between 1990 and 2023—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—but the burdens on people affected remain substantial.

The crystal structure of BamA, the central component of the β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) complex, from N. gonorrhoeae and H. ducreyi is determined; the structure consists of an interior cavity capped by extracellular loops, an exterior rim with a narrowed hydrophobic surface and a lateral opening of the barrel domain, providing insight into a possible route for the insertion of β-barrel membrane proteins into the bacterial outer membrane.

Chronic care manages long-term, progressive conditions, while acute care handles short-term ones. Here, authors show chronic conditions account for most of the global health burden, with 68% of DALYs and 93% of YLDs attributed to chronic care needs.

Genetic variants at multiple loci of chr5p15.33 have been associated with susceptibility to numerous cancers. Here the authors show that the association of one of these loci may be explained by a variant, rs36115365, influencing telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression via ZNF148.

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).

Removing Mg²⁺ from RNA and replacing it with Fe²⁺ confers on some RNAs the ability to catalyse single-electron transfer. Here, it is hypothesized that Fe²⁺ was an RNA cofactor on the early Earth, when iron was benign and abundant, and was replaced by Mg²⁺ during a period known as the great oxidation, brought on by photosynthesis.

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.

This study maps the connections of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the mouse cortex, revealing distinct local and intercortical wiring patterns, and provides an open framework for exploring the connectivity of cell types.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have become a key tool to discover genetic markers for complex traits; however, environmental factors that interact with genes are rarely considered. Here, the authors conduct a GWAS of obesity traits, and find that smoking may alter genetic susceptibilities.

A multi-ancestry genome-wide association study for age at menarche followed by fine mapping and downstream analysis implicates 665 pubertal timing genes, such as the G-protein-coupled receptor 83 (GPR83) and other genes expressed in the ovaries involved in the DNA damage response.

Polymers are known to spontaneously produce micro- and nanoplastics but the mechanisms by which environmentally-triggered Å-level random bond breaking events lead to the formation of these relatively large fragments are unclear. Here, the authors show that chain scission accumulates in the amorphous phase of a semicrystalline morphology which leads to mechanical failure and the concurrent release of nanoplastics even under quiescent conditions.

Species’ traits and environmental conditions determine the abundance of tree species across the globe. Here, the authors find that dominant tree species are taller and have softer wood compared to rare species and that these trait differences are more strongly associated with temperature than water availability.

Large language models (LLMs) can synthesize vast amounts of information. Luo et al. show that LLMs—especially BrainGPT, an LLM the authors tuned on the neuroscience literature—outperform experts in predicting neuroscience results and could assist scientists in making future discoveries.

Meta-analysis of 36,760 cases and 375,188 controls identifies 54 loci associated with susceptibility to cutaneous melanoma. Further analysis combining nevus count and hair color GWAS results provide insights into the genetic architecture of melanoma.

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.

Whole-genome sequencing analysis of individuals with primary immunodeficiency identifies new candidate disease-associated genes and shows how the interplay between genetic variants can explain the variable penetrance and complexity of the disease.

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.

The accretion geometry of X-ray binary Cygnus X-3 is determined here from IXPE observations. X-ray polarization reveals a narrow funnel with reflecting walls, which focuses emission, making Cyg X-3 appear as an ultraluminous X-ray source.

Understanding shear thickening in colloidal suspensions is of great practical importance. Hsu et al. create responsive polymer-coated silica particles whose rheology can be tuned in situ, following modifications of their tribology, which is separately characterized at the single-colloid level.

Cancer cells frequently harbour genetic aberrations that protect them from programmed cell death. Here, the authors show in non-small cell lung cancer that the anti-apoptotic gene MCL-1 is subject to copy number gains and that deletion of MCL-1 reduces tumour formation.

MOF glass nanocomposites allow researchers to study lead halide perovskites’ bulk and interfacial regions in relation to their optoelectronic properties. Here authors provide insights for the advancement of stable and efficient perovskite optoelectronic devices design.

John Perry and colleagues report the results of a large genome-wide association study meta-analysis to identify variants influencing age at natural menopause. They identify 54 independent signals and find enrichment near genes involved in delayed puberty and DNA damage response.

Hefzi et al. engineer cells to nearly eliminate lactate production and increase mitochondrial use of pyruvate by deleting both lactate dehydrogenases and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases with the goal of circumventing pH and osmolarity issues that arise in bioreactor-based production of biopharmaceuticals.

The extracellular matrix can affect cell behaviour both physically and biochemically. Here, the authors developed a substrate that is based on peptides and nucleic acids hybrids that can dynamically present signals upon demand which regulate cell adhesion and migration, thereby controlling cell organisation.

An analysis of the localization and intensity of intracortical microstimulation in three participants with cervical spinal cord injury shows that overlapping projected fields from multiple electrodes produce sensations that are more easily localizable.

A wide diversity of surfaces patterned with microfibres is highly desirable for various applications as electrode materials. Demortière et al.develop a facile approach of producing polymer microfibres with controlled architectures via dynamic self-assembly under an alternating electric field.

A genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI) detects 97 BMI-associated loci, of which 56 were novel, and many loci have effects on other metabolic phenotypes; pathway analyses implicate the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and new pathways such as those related to synaptic function, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.

This meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies four genetic loci associated with circulating leptin levels independent of adiposity. Examination in mouse adipose tissue explants provides functional support for the leptin-associated loci.

Semi-flexible polymers are an important structural building block in living cells, which possess unique mechanical properties. Here, the authors visualize the shear-induced conformational transition of actin filaments as a model system to study cell formation in cytoplasmic flows.

Implant infection is the most common mode of joint replacement failure with serious complications. Here, the authors report on the in vivo application of a prophylactic coating technology that can incorporate a range of antibiotics and be applied in the operating room prior to implantation.

Controlled tissue fixation with polyepoxides protects protein fluorescence, antigenicity, nucleic acids and tissue architecture.

Wood density is an important plant trait. Data from 1.1 million forest inventory plots and 10,703 tree species show a latitudinal gradient in wood density, with temperature and soil moisture explaining variation at the global scale and disturbance also having a role at the local level.

Whole-genome sequencing and phenotype data sharing are introduced in a national health system to streamline diagnosis and to discover coding and non-coding variants that cause rare diseases.

Severe sepsis has a high mortality rate. Here, the authors provide genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic data across four sepsis-causing pathogens and identify a signature of global increase in fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis as well as cholesterol acquisition.

A large international panel of experts reach consensus on a new standard for reporting settings in psychedelic trials, identifying 30 key non-pharmacological factors to strengthen the rigor of psychedelic research.

Peptide amphiphile supramolecular polymers with a crosslinked spiropyran network respond to light by expelling water, enabling the fabrication of soft actuators or light-driven crawlers.

Using JWST, more than 40 individual stars have been detected in a distant galaxy, dating back to when the Universe was only half of its current age. The stars appear to be red (super)giants that are magnified by factors of hundreds.

Spatially resolved images of M87 obtained at a wavelength of 3.5 mm in 2018 show a ring-like accretion structure, the inner (outer) edge of which connects the black hole (jet).

Searchable dynamic peptide libraries, which are based on the sequence exchange of unprotected peptides under user-defined conditions, can be used to discover self-assembled peptide nanostructures.

Investigation of variation in three cohorts has identified multiple genetic signals associated with the pregnancy-specific liver disorder, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, giving insight into the disease which can cause preterm birth and stillbirth.

Melanocytic nevus count is associated with melanoma risk. In this study, a meta-analysis of 11 nevus GWAS studies identifies novel SNPs in KITLG and 9q32, and bivariate analysis with melanoma GWAS meta-analysis reveals that most nevus genes affect melanoma risk, while melanoma risk loci do not alter the nevus count.

Results from a comprehensive evaluation of the function of BRCA2 variants, particularly variants of uncertain significance, provide a useful resource to improve the clinical management of individuals who carry such genetic variants.

Patricia Munroe, Joanna Howson and colleagues genotype ∼350,000 individuals and identify 30 new blood pressure– or hypertension-associated risk loci. Their analyses provide insights into the pathophysiology of hypertension and highlight new potential targets for clinical intervention.