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This year marks the mid-point for the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including Sustainable Development Goal 15 ‘Life on land’. We asked a range of researchers, working across biodiversity science, conservation, policy and implementation, to reflect on priorities for action on conserving terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems over the next seven years.

Structures of the assembled matrix protein 1 of influenza A virus in intact virus particles and of oligomers of this protein reconstituted in vitro reveal mechanisms of assembly and disassembly of influenza virus.

Soft tissues are rarely preserved in the fossil record; therefore, body shape of extinct vertebrates is usually inferred indirectly. Here, the authors use laser-stimulated fluorescence of fossils to detect and reconstruct the body outline of the paravian dinosaurAnchiornisfrom the Late Jurassic.

Plants perceive UVB from sunlight. For this, Arabidopsis thaliana use the receptor UVR8. Dynamic crystallography reveals early signalling structural events and intermediates between the homodimeric (inactive) and monomeric (active) states of UVR8.

What is the state of trust in scientists around the world? To answer this question, the authors surveyed 71,922 respondents in 68 countries and found that trust in scientists is moderately high.

The hetero-Diels–Alder reaction is a powerful strategy for constructing six-membered heterocycles, yet natural enzymatic hetero-Diels–Alder reactions are limited to a single heteroatom. Now a bifunctional enzyme, Abx₍₋₎F, is found to catalyse the dehydration and a dual-oxa Diels–Alder reaction to form the oxygen-bridged tricyclic acetal of (−)-anthrabenzoxocinones.

Literature produced inconsistent findings regarding the links between extreme weather events and climate policy support across regions, populations and events. This global study offers a holistic assessment of these relationships and highlights the role of subjective attribution.

Genetic mutations are found in only 15% of sporadic ALS. Here, authors identify PCDHA9 as a candidate ALS gene and elucidate detailed underlying pathogenesis using mice with Pcdhα9 mutations that develop typical ALS phenotype and hallmark pathology.

Shen et al. report a method for multiplexing isogenic iPSCs for single-cell RNA-seq. With it, they created an atlas of in vitro differentiation and identified TMEM88 as a regulator of cardiovascular development, impacting blood pressure in adult mice.

The shape of bird toe pads and foot scales can be used to infer their behaviour. Here, the authors examine fossil evidence of toe pads and scales, in addition to claws and bones, from birds and close relatives, illustrating diverse lifestyles and ecological roles among early theropod flyers.

The study reveals how bortezomib activates Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clp protease complexes. Cryo-EM structures reveal how sub-stoichiometric bortezomib binding triggers structural changes, mediates holoenzyme formation and disrupts Clp system regulation.

Small cell cervical carcinoma (SCCC) is a rare but aggressive malignancy. Here, the authors report human papillomavirus features and genomic landscape in SCCC via high-throughput sequencing methods and identify MYC, SOX, NR4A, ANKRD and CEA family genes as HPV-integrated hotspots.

Deletion of cellular NAD+ via Sir2-depentent NADase provides immunity against phage infection in the Sir2-HerA immune system. Here the authors reveal supramolecular assembly for the allosteric activation on Sir2 NADase function in the Sir2-HerA antiphage system.

Mediators of insulin signalling are targets of cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRL) that mediate protein degradation, but the role of protein degradation in insulin signalling is incompletely understood. Here, the authors identified a glucose-responsive CRL4-COP1-ETV5 proteolytic axis that promotes insulin secretion, and is inhibited under hypoglycemia.

Convergence of heavy or light chains in antibodies recognising pathogens could drive mutations in these pathogens. Here the authors examine antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and find that a conserved VL6-57 light chain recognising a conserved motif in the spike protein is associated with virus mutations and could drive changes in SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants.

The structural transformation of crystals triggered by external stimuli is a fascinating area in materials science and supramolecular chemistry, though it is challenging to maintain crystallinity during an organic reaction. Here the authors show an example of a triethylamine vapor-induced cyclization reaction in a cocrystal, leading to its conversion into polycrystals.

Genome-wide association analyses across individuals of East Asian and European ancestries identify new risk loci for inflammatory bowel diseases. A polygenic risk score derived from the combined datasets shows improved prediction accuracy.

Amino acid changes in a newly identified spike epitope enabled the Delta variant to evade a population antibody response.

A consortium reports the tripling of the number of genetic markers in Phase II of the International HapMap Project. This map of human genetic variation will continue to revolutionize discovery of susceptibility loci in common genetic diseases, and study of genes under selection in humans.

3D printing has potential in designing personalised scaffolds, but minimally invasive implantation is still challenging. Here, the authors report the development of a polyurethane material with temperature triggered shape memory and water triggered deformation that allows for transcatheter delivery.

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.

The structural stability is challenging for 1T-MoS2 based catalysts. Here, authors report that p-block In-O atoms stabilize the 1T-MoS2 matrix via interface orbital coupling. In-O also enables epitaxial growth of Ru nanoparticles from the MoS2 lattice, enhancing performance in Li | |O2 batteries.

The Ca_V2.3 channel is involved in synaptic plasticity and neurological disorders. Here, authors resolve the human Ca_V2.3 structure to explore functional heterogeneity of VSDs and elucidated the closed- and open-state inactivation mechanisms of the channel.

Excessive bone marrow adipocytes accumulation is involved in bone deterioration. Here, the authors show that adipocyte ESRRA abrogation promotes osteogenesis and vascular formation in adipocyte-rich bone marrow via oppositely regulating the expression and secretion of leptin and SPP1.

The structure and receptor-binding characteristics are presented of the haemagglutinin (HA) from an avian H10N2 virus that closely resembles an isolate from recent human fatalities; although avian H10 has a marked preference for the avian receptor, it is already able to bind to the human receptor, and its structure in complex with the human receptor shows similarities to HA from pandemic H1 and H7 viruses.

The origin of nematicity in kagome superconductors has been hard to explain due to other entangled phases. Now, the role of orbital hybridization and coupling is revealed to induce electronic nematicity in the kagome superconductor RbTi₃Bi₅.

Bivalve molluscs have evolved various characteristics to adapt to benthic filter-feeding. Here, Li et al investigate the genome, transcriptomes and proteomes of scallop Chlamys farreri, revealing evidences of molecular adaptations to semi-sessile life and neurotoxins.

This work on 90 angiosperm tree species presents a trait-based root ‘acquisition-defence-decomposition’ framework. In support, the study shows how tree root economics strategy and mycorrhizal strategy strongly correlate with root litter chemical defences that define root decomposability, with multiple potential consequences feeding back on tree nutrition.

Here, a draft sequence of the giant panda genome is assembled using next-generation sequencing technology alone. Genome analysis reveals a low divergence rate in comparison with dog and human genomes and insights into panda-specific traits; for example, the giant panda's bamboo diet may be more dependent on its gut microbiome than its own genetic composition.

Evolutionary analysis of transcriptomes across Metazoa supports a scenario of ancestral adult stages and a single intercalation event at the origin of larvae.

Despite existing regulations, many emerging environmental contaminants remain ungoverned, posing serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Here, we outline governance challenges and propose a global roadmap for their regulation. Proactive identification, risk assessment, and international collaboration are urgently needed to close regulatory gaps and ensure a safer, healthier environment for all.

Miller et al. present a disassociated rhamphotheca of a Cretaceous bird, which sheds light on the diet and developmental biology of some of the earliest birds. Exceptionally preserved fossils are rare but when soft tissue is preserved it can provide insight into the anatomy and behavior of extinct organisms.

The functional effects of genetic loci associated with autoimmune disease are not well understood. By dissecting an autoimmune disease genetic locus, the authors define an immune cell-type-specific enhancer and the molecular mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of IRF8 expression by lupus risk variants.

Solar flares provide wide range of observational details about fundamental processes involved. Here, the authors show evidence for magnetic reconnection in a strong confined solar flare displaying all four reconnection flows with plasmoids in the current sheet and the separatrices.

Successive fusion of yeast chromosomes is used to produce a single-chromosome strain that is viable, albeit with slightly reduced fitness.

Monoclonal antibody neutralization of circulating microbiota-derived peptidoglycan subunits alleviates autoimmune disease.

The genome of the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis is sequenced. This bivalve mollusc has a slow-evolving genome with features such as karyotype and Hox gene expression that may be close to that of the ancestral bilaterian.

Therapeutic administration of IL-27—serum levels of which are decreased in individuals with obesity—improves thermogenesis, protects against diet-induced obesity and ameliorates insulin resistance in mouse models of obesity.