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The role of keratinocyte subpopulations in the different phases of the viral cycle during HPV16 infection remains to be characterised. Here, single cell RNA sequencing of HPV16 infected and uninfected organoids identifies 12 distinct keratinocyte populations including an HPV-reprogrammed keratinocyte subpopulation that is linked to cancer.

Steven Aftergood weighs up a study that gauges the gap between oversight and the onward rush of innovation.

Paterson and Yu et al. demonstrate that loss of the RNA alternative splicing factor RBFOX2 in the liver during a lipogenic diet leads to dysregulation of liver lipid and cholesterol homeostasis through a specific alternative splicing programme, which includes a splice switch of the high-density lipoprotein receptor gene Scarb1.

The immunology of Indigenous populations is generally understudied outside the context of diseases that are prevalent in these communities. Here the authors identify prevalence of influenza CD8⁺ T cell epitopes in an Indigenous Australian population expressing the susceptibility allomorph HLA A*24:02 and validate immunodominance of some of these epitopes in mice.

A ‘mouse atlas’, comprising single-cell transcriptomic data from more than 100,000 cells from 20 organs and tissues, has been created as a resource for cell biology.

The early molecular events that ultimately lead to neuronal cell death in pathologies such as Parkinson’s disease are poorly understood. Here the authors use pluripotent stem-cell-derived human midbrain neurons and chemical biology tools to gain molecular level insight into the events induced by toxic and genetic stresses that mimic those occurring during neurodegeneration.

A compact, high-performance silicon photonics-based light detection and ranging system for three-dimensional imaging is developed that should be amenable to low-cost mass manufacturing

Quantitative connectivity matrices (or connectomes) for both adult sexes of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are presented that encompass all connections from sensory input to end-organ output across the entire animal.

Isotopic and sedimentary analyses of soils at Pastoral Neolithic archaeological sites in Kenya demonstrate the long-term influence of nutrient enrichment on savannah environments that has accompanied pastoralist settlement over the past three millennia.

Mediator is a multiprotein complex required to activate gene transcription by RNAPII. Here, the authors report that MED12 and MED13 are conditional positive regulators that facilitate the expression of genes depleted in active chromatin marks and the induction of gene expression in response to environmental stimuli in Arabidopsis.

Using a food systems approach, the authors show that scientifically guided insect biological control mitigated 43 pest targets between 1918 and 2018 in the Asia–Pacific region, allowing for yield-loss recoveries of up to 73–100% in non-rice critical crops, with strong impacts on rural economies.

It is generally thought many microbes, owing to their ubiquity and dispersal capability, lack biogeographic structuring and clear speciation patterns compared to macroorganisms. However, Pinseel et al. demonstrate multiple cycles of colonization and diversification in Pinnularia borealis, a rare biosphere soil diatom.

Yoo and colleagues find that while pursuing virtual prey, monkeys predict the prey’s upcoming movements, and neurons in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex tracked prey position, velocity and acceleration to facilitate these predictions.

Jakobshavn Isbrae, the largest source of ice mass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet, has been re-advancing since 2016 after a decades-long retreat, reveals an analysis of airborne altimetry and satellite data. The advance coincides with regional ocean cooling.

The homologous recombination machinery needs to be recruited at replication intermediates for accurate functioning. Here, the authors reveal that a Rad51 paralog-containing complex, called the Shu complex, recognizes and enables tolerance of predominantly lagging strand abasic sites.

A peptide-based fluorescent inhibitor of the dimerization of an oncoprotein of the Epstein–Barr virus blocks the proliferation of tumours associated with the virus in mice.

The Microrchidia (Morc) family of GHKL ATPases are important repressors of transposons and other DNA-methylated and silent genes in A. thaliana. Here, the authors show that MORC1 is responsible for repression and methylation of specific classes of transposons in the mouse male germline.

Although solar flares are the most energetic events that occur in our Solar System, very little is known about their contribution to the total energy the Earth receives from the Sun. The identification of a measurable signal from a moderate-sized solar flare in total solar irradiance data suggests their impact on the variability of the Sun’s output could be larger than expected.

Whole-genome analysis of paired follicular lymphoma and double-hit lymphoma shows that lymphoma progression is accompanied by enhanced somatic mutations targeting super-enhancer-embedded promoters.

The mechanisms that drive myocyte orientation and fusion to control muscle directionality are not well understood. Here authors show that the developing skeleton produces mechanical tension that instructs the directional outgrowth of skeletal muscles.

A retrospective analysis using PCR testing, viral enrichment-based sequencing and agnostic metagenomic sequencing finds an association between adeno-associated virus type 2 and paediatric hepatitis of unknown cause.

Lattice anchoring, in its varied forms, has proven effective at regulating the energetics of metastable phases of polymorphic crystals. Here, the authors utilize top-down photolithography to embed a tessellating 3D interfacial network into otherwise-unstable CsPbI₃ perovskite thin films and devices, stabilizing the perovskite phase.

The role of ciliary/centriolar components in the postnatal brain is unclear. Here, the authors show via ablation of Pcm1 in mice that degenerative ciliary/centriolar phenotypes induce neuroanatomical and behavioral changes. Sequencing of PCM1 in human cohorts and zebrafish in vivo complementation suggests PCM1 mutations can contribute to schizophrenia.

Prioritising genes as potential drug targets is challenging and often unsuccessful once testing efficacy in humans. Here, the authors propose an approach to identifying drug targets that uses evidence from gain- or loss-of-function mutations associated with bidirectional effects on phenotypes.

Ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) are involved in skeletal muscle contraction. Here, the authors show that a transient calcium leak in response to exercise-induced post translational modifications of RyR1 causes mitochondrial remodeling to improve respiration.

The involvement of nuclear pore proteins in cellular mechanosensing and metastasis is unclear. Here the authors identify that nuclear pore protein NUP210 promotes metastasis through the interaction with mechanotransducer LINC complex protein and chromatin to regulate mechanosensitive genes.

Combining localization and polarization microscopy can yield detailed insights into subcellular structures. POLCAM uses a polarization camera and wide-field microscopy for rapid measurement of super-resolution orientation imaging in live cells.

Using measurements from 139 global lakes, the authors demonstrate how long-term thermal habitat change in lakes is exacerbated by species’ seasonal and depth-related constraints. They further reveal higher change in tropical lakes, and those with high biodiversity and endemism.

Locksley et al. show tissue-specific imprinting dictates the activating receptors ILC2s express, even in germ-free mice. Skin ILC2s are preferentially activated by IL-18, and IL-18 contributes to inflammation in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis.

A single-cell atlas of human fetal bone marrow in healthy fetuses and fetuses with Down syndrome provides insight into developmental haematopoiesis in humans and the transcription and functional differences that occur in Down syndrome.

Daily location data on the individuals of 14 migratory marine species from 2000 to 2009 allow annual migratory cycles to be mapped to the time spent in the high seas and the exclusive economic zones of specific countries, providing a basis for international management strategies for these species.

Folkersen et al. report the first results from the SCALLOP consortium, a collaborative framework for pQTL mapping and biomarker analysis of proteins on the Olink platform. A total of 315 primary and 136 secondary pQTLs for 85 circulating cardiovascular proteins from over 30,000 individuals were identified and replicated to yield new insights for translational studies and drug development.

Hunt, Malalasekera et al. recorded populations of prefrontal neurons from monkeys performing a visual attention-guided-choice task. The results revealed that distinct computations in three PFC subregions as information was sampled guided the eventual decision.

Robust estimates of either urban expansion worldwide or the effects of such phenomenon on terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP) are lacking. Here the authors used the new dataset of global land use to show that the global urban areas expanded largely between 2000 and 2010, which in turn reduced terrestrial NPP globally.

The MAGIC investigators report results of a large genome-wide association study meta-analysis to identify common variants influencing fasting glucose homeostasis. They further show that several of the newly discovered loci influencing glycemic traits are also associated with risk of type 2 diabetes.

Genome-wide association studies have identified regions which confer risk of high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer. Here the authors use expression quantitative train locus analysis to identify candidate genes and functionally characterise them, identifying a role for HOXD9 in ovarian cancer.

It is unclear to what extent early hominins were adapted to arboreal climbing. Here, the authors show that the nearly complete hand of H. naledifrom South Africa has markedly curved digits and otherwise human-like wrist and palm, which indicates the retention of a significant degree of climbing.

Benchmarking of tumor subclonal reconstruction algorithms finds that interalgorithm variability overwhelms intertumor variability and identifies key quality metrics.

The human lipopolysaccharide receptor caspase-4 captures its cytokine substrate pro-IL-18 via a mechanism that is distinct from known caspase–substrate interactions, leading to inflammasome-independent IL-18 release from macrophages.

Stress-associated catecholamines promote CD8⁺ T cell exhaustion through the β₁-adrenergic receptor, and blocking β-adrenergic signalling may help restore anti-tumour functions.

Sea-level rise poses a substantial risk to coastal communities and economies, thus accurate predictions are needed to enable planning and adaptation. This Perspective provides an overview of uncertainties in model projections of sea-level rise, and how observations can be used to reduce these.

This robust, proteome-wide approach for the exploration of the S-nitrosoproteome in human and mouse tissues uses the SNOTRAP probe and nano-liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The protocol enables efficient and high-throughput profiling of S-nitrosylated proteins in complex mixtures of biological material.

Improving the manufacturability of perovskite solar cells is key to their deployment. Zheng et al. report a one-step deposition of the hole-selective and absorber layers that addresses wettability issues and simplifies the fabrication process.

Use of the ResearchKit platform to track symptoms of a large cohort of asthma sufferers over time demonstrates the pros and cons of mobile health applications in large-scale observational studies.

Combinatorial shuffling of peptide sequence modules, post-translational modification and screening with a high-throughput growth inhibition assay results in the identification of lanthipeptide variants with altered antibacterial activities.

Woermann and colleagues describe a deaminase-independent function for APOBEC3A in initiating chromosomal instability and STING-dependent metastasis in human and mouse pancreatic cancer.