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Global analysis of obesity trends from 1980 to 2024 in 200 countries and territories using data from 4,050 population-based studies reveals that framing obesity as a single global epidemic masks the highly varied dynamics across countries and age groups.

Liposomal probes actuated by engineered peptide-based pores control MRI contrast by regulating water access to liposome-encapsulated gadolinium chelators and enable molecular target detection in vivo.

Understanding collective behaviour is an important aspect of managing the pandemic response. Here the authors show in a large global study that participants that reported identifying more strongly with their nation reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies in the context of the pandemic.

Kerndl and colleagues identify that arginase 1-expressing monocyte-derived cells mediate arginine catabolism and detrimental effects during experimental autoimmune encephalitis-triggered neuroinflammation.

Vertical transmission is thought to favour beneficial host–microbe interactions, but these may also be context dependent. Here Bruijning et al. show with a model that variable environments can select for bet-hedging by hosts via imperfect vertical transmission of microbes.

The potency of a class of RAF kinase inhibitors was found to depend on cancer cell signaling activity. This insight informed reengineering of a clinically approved MEK inhibitor to block this cancer-driving pathway more effectively in combination.

When 100 social and behavioural science claims were examined, 34% of reanalyses closely matched the original results, with 74% reaching the same conclusion, revealing limited robustness of single-path analyses and the need to address analytical uncertainty.

Authors investigate ancient DNA from animal remains and identify multiple signatures of ancient zoonotic pathogens. They find ancient pathogen genomics from archaeological animal remains may inform zoonotic disease emergence.

Wild meat is a fundamental component of the diets of rural Central African populations, accounting for 20% of the recommended daily protein intake, compared with 13% and 6% for those living in towns and cities.

Kozlova et al. report a functional role for NDRG1 in regulating R-loops and DNA repair, thereby linking cancer-associated fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix to chemotherapy responses in pancreatic cancer.

Imaging suggests why the ability to make inferences declines after an episode of acute stress, such as a job interview.

Transmission of Plasmodium falciparum relies on the development of gametocytes, which undergo extensive cellular remodelling. Here, the authors demonstrate that the PfGID E3 ubiquitin ligase complex affects gametocyte development by regulating key proteins, producing defective cells that cannot infect mosquitoes.

Managing hydrocephalus relies on non-specific symptoms. Here, the authors report a 0.28-gram implant that measures intracranial pressure long term, tested in pediatric and adult patients.

During development, cells acquire their identity—a process that depends on epigenetic modifications such as methylation. Now, a statistical physics analysis of methylation helps explain embryonic symmetry breaking.

Machine-learning analyses in UK Biobank show that lifetime exposures predict brain health, with cardiovascular and metabolic factors emerging as key drivers of brain ageing. It further highlights the importance of early prevention.

Agonistic antibodies initiate signalling by the receptors they target, mimicking the activities of native ligands. This Review discusses the clinical successes and failures of agonistic antibodies and explains how recent mechanistic insights should broaden the scope and improve the safety and efficacy of immunotherapies based on these agents.

Greenwald, Nederlof and colleagues developed a computational pipeline analyzing multiplex imaging data and established spatial patterns within breast cancer microenvironment that are predictive of immune checkpoint blockade response across treatment time course.

Oat consumption, particularly a short-term, high-dose oat diet, improves metabolic health in individuals with metabolic syndrome by increasing microbially produced phenolic metabolites, leading to lower blood cholesterol levels.

Analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes from archaeological canid remains found across Europe and Anatolia shows that a genetically homogeneous dog population was already widely distributed across the region by 15,000 years ago.

In this phase 2 trial, combination treatment with elraglusib, a cell-permeable ATP-competitive inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP), in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma led to prolonged overall survival compared with GnP only.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), a very rare and understudied sarcoma, presents serious challenges for both diagnosis and treatment. Here, the authors employ multi-omics profiling on 30 refractory DSRCT patients to improve the diagnosis and identify potentially actionable targets for individualized DSRCT treatment.

High-resolution 3D simulations reveal that rotation dramatically amplifies wave-driven mixing in red giant stars, providing a natural explanation for observed changes in surface chemistry that have long puzzled astronomers.

SLCO2A1 (also known as OATP2A1) is responsible for the transport of eicosanoids, including prostaglandins (PGs), as well as of a subset of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Here, structures of SLCO2A1 bound to PGs and to four widely used drugs elucidate the molecular basis for PG and drug recognition.

The Mouse Cancer Cell line Atlas (MCCA) provides major advances towards a mechanistic understanding of cancer genomes.

Salladay-Perez and colleagues explore senescence induction in human and mouse macrophages using multiomic profiling. They characterize a p21⁺TREM2⁺ senescent macrophage population, which they functionally implicate in inflammaging and liver disease.

Here, the authors leverage stable isotope and peptide analyses to show that some 18th century Māori individuals ate largely plant-based diets. This work aligns with Māori oral history and archaeological evidence, which points to sweet potato and taro cultivation as important for population growth and cultural change at the time.

It remains unclear why some BRCA-deficient high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSC) do not respond to platinum-based therapy. Here, multi-omic analysis of BRCA1- and BRCA2-deficient HGSC attributes co-occurring mutations, DNA repair deficiency and tumor microenvironment features to short survival in these patients.

Global change is altering biodiversity worldwide, yet species’ responses vary over time and remain difficult to predict. This study shows that key biological traits predict how estuarine macroinvertebrates respond to multiple global change drivers.

Many physical, social, lifestyle and systemic body factors — collectively termed the ‘exposome’ — can influence brain and behavioural phenotypes across the lifespan. In this Perspective, Sarah Genon and colleagues examine how we can gain a better understanding of the exposome’s neurocognitive effects.

Little work has been done to describe and address the variability inherent in the agroinfiltration and genetic engineering of Nicotiana benthamiana. Here, the authors identify and quantify the sources of virtually all variation and develop recommendations for minimizing variation.

Pacific salmon face mounting threats rooted in colonialism, driving inequities for Indigenous Salmon Peoples. This Review introduces the concept of ‘cumulative injustices’ and examines salmon systems through five equity dimensions, identifying opportunities for transformative change that honours ecological integrity and justice in Canada and the USA.

From 2014–2017, marine heatwaves caused global mass coral bleaching, where the corals lose their symbiotic algae. The authors find, this event exceeded the severity of all prior global bleaching events in recorded history, with approximately half the world’s reefs bleaching and 15% experiencing substantial mortality.

The molecular landscape of Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma (FLC), a rare liver cancer, remains to be characterised. Here, multi-omics analysis of liver tumours across different liver cancer subtypes identifies distinct transcriptomic signatures and reveals that PKA activation is the unifying phenotype of FLC.

A star in a primordial dwarf galaxy has preserved the elements produced by the first generation of stars. The star lacks heavy elements but exhibits an extreme amount of carbon, suggesting that low-energy explosions can seed the initial chemistry of early galaxies.

An expert-elicitation process identifies current methodological barriers for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity, and how technological and procedural development of robotic and autonomous systems may contribute to overcoming these challenges.

The Amazon faces worsening droughts, yet little is known about large-scale variation in the physiological limits of Amazon trees. Here, the authors reveal family-level conservatism in embolism resistance and estimate that Brazilian and Guiana shield forests are more resistant than Western Amazonia forests.