Nature Portfolio

Pokémon turns 30 — how the fictional pocket monsters shaped science The Japanese media sensation has inspired generations of researchers in fields as diverse as evolution, biodiversity and research integrity.

For Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, Nature spoke to scientists from around the world about how their work has been shaped by playing Pokémon games, watching animated TV series and films and trading cards in school playgrounds. 🧪

Ancient feathers found in the Ychsma tomb in Pachacamac. Credit: George Olah

Live parrots were transported over the Andes for their feathers in ancient Peru, according to research in Nature Communications. Analysis of still-colourful feathers found in a Ychsma-era tomb suggests a complex and widespread economy that predates the Incan empire. go.nature.com/4umFAnh 🏺 🧪

Cancer blood tests are everywhere. Do they really work? Their makers claim they can detect dozens of cancer types — but some scientists say they could be missing many cancers or delivering the wrong diagnosis.

The makers of cancer blood tests claim they can detect dozens of cancer types, but some scientists tell Nature these tests could be missing many cancers or delivering the wrong diagnosis. #medsky 🧪

This is figure 2, which shows changes from baseline to 1- and 2-year follow-ups in epigenetic clocks according to MVM supplementation and placebo groups in COSMOS.

A daily multivitamin–multimineral supplement significantly slowed certain markers of biological ageing after two years of treatment in a study involving 958 older adults published in Nature Medicine. go.nature.com/40pVI9Q #medsky 🧪

Wide-swath altimetry maps bank shapes and storage changes in global rivers - Nature Observations of river channel geometry and monthly water storage changes for 126,674 river reaches worldwide are derived from the first water year of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite mission.

A near‑global map of river channel shape and monthly water‑storage change, based on satellite observations of almost 130,000 river sections worldwide, is reported in Nature. 🧪

The world’s salt lakes are drying up, but solutions are hard to come by An eclectic book asks how humans have shaped these ‘queer’ landscapes and how they can be restored.

My latest book review for @natureportfolio.nature.com
Salt Lakes: An Unnatural History by Caroline Tracey.

Part scientific survey of salt lakes (most of them in the western United States), part coming-of-age memoir and part a glimpse at a field called queer ecology.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The risk of kidney disease increases following SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to influenza - Communications Medicine Zhang et al. utilized a large real-world dataset from more than three million adults in the United States to compare the incident of kidney disease risks following COVID-19 and influenza infections. The study found that COVID-19 is associated with a higher risk of acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and end stage renal disease than influenza.

COVID-19 infection is associated with a 2.3-fold risk of developing acute kidney injury, a 1.4-fold risk of chronic kidney disease, and a 4.7-fold risk of end-stage renal disease compared to influenza, reports a study published in Communications Medicine. 🧪

National analysis of cancer mortality and proximity to nuclear power plants in the United States - Nature Communications ‘Populations residing near nuclear power plants may experience low-level chronic exposure to ionizing radiation through environmental release pathways. In here the authors find higher cancer mortality rates in U.S. counties closer to operational nuclear power plants, with the strongest relative risks observed in older adults.’

A study published in Nature Communications reports higher cancer mortality rates in U.S. counties closer to operational nuclear power plants, with the strongest relative risks observed in older adults. 🧪

This is figure 1, which shows the Rimae Bode region and proposed landing sites.

Observations of the Rimae Bode region on the Moon shows five distinct types of terrain and identifies several potential landing sites for China’s first crewed mission, according to research published in Nature Astronomy. go.nature.com/40q0JiG 🔭 🧪

Global physical activity for health Nature Health and Nature Medicine present a collection on global physical activity for health, bringing together research focusing on global patterns of ...

Three papers from Nature Medicine and Nature Health indicate that current efforts to promote participation in physical activity are insufficient and that coordinated action is needed. #medsky 🧪

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“Pesticide residues alter taxonomic and functional biodiversity in soils” 🧪
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Honored to share our work @siderm.bsky.social 2026, on the skin, and how the immune system, the endocrine system, and the skin microbes interface. Our latest is now in press published with @natureportfolio.nature.com Nature Microbiology! #research. rdcu.be/e50PE

The image shows a life reconstruction of the biggest Silurian vertebrate, Megamastax amblyodus. Art Credit: NICE PaleoVislab, IVPP.

The oldest-known articulated bony fish and an early example of teeth from a bony fish have been detected in a collection of fossils from China, dating back to the Silurian period (around 444 to 419 million years ago). The findings are reported in Nature. go.nature.com/4smXMeD 🧪 #paleobio

Sea level much higher than assumed in most coastal hazard assessments - Nature Meta-analyses on a global scale show that the measured coastal mean sea level is higher than assumed in most coastal hazard assessments.

Most research may have underestimated coastal sea-level height across the world by an average of 0.3 m, according to a study published in Nature. In some areas in the Global South, these levels may be up to 1 m higher than previously assumed. 🧪

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Early hominin arrival in Southeast Asia triggered the evolution of major human malaria vectors - Scientific Reports Some species of the Leucosphyrus Group of Anopheles mosquitoes in Southeast Asia are highly anthropophilic and efficient vectors of human malaria parasites, while others primarily feed on non-human primates (NHP) and transmit NHP malaria parasites. The evolutionary history of this group, particularly the origin of anthropophily, was studied using phylogenomic analysis of 2,657 high-confidence nuclear single-copy orthologous genes and 13 mitochondrial protein coding genes from 40 individuals of 11 species. Molecular dating and ancestral state reconstruction revealed that monkey-feeding is ancestral with speciation of monkey-feeding species dating to the Pliocene within Sundaland (Malay peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra and Java) which was covered in tropical rain forests during this period. Although less parsimonious alternatives cannot be excluded, molecular dating, ancestral state reconstruction and reticulation analysis indicated that anthropophily most likely evolved once, involving adaptive introgression, in the early Pleistocene in Sundaland, giving rise to multiple descendent anthropophilic species. Such early origination of anthropophily must necessarily have been in response to the arrival of early hominins (Homo erectus) rather than anatomically modern humans, likely associated with loss and fragmentation of rainforests during the early Pleistocene. The early origination of anthropophily also provides independent non-archaeological evidence supporting the limited fossil record of early hominin colonization in Southeast Asia around 1.8 Mya.

The preference of some mosquitoes in the Leucosphyrus Group of Anopheles mosquitoes for feeding on humans may have evolved in response to the arrival of early hominins in Southeast Asia ~1.8 million years ago. The findings are published in Scientific Reports. 🧪 #evobio

AI agents are ‘aeroplanes for the mind’: five ways to ensure that scientists are responsible pilots As artificial-intelligence systems take on more of the scientific workflow, the central goal should not be complete automation, but designing platforms that preserve creativity, responsibility and surprise.

In a Comment article for Nature, Dashun Wang outlines the lessons that his team learnt from building a research-focused AI agent and the principles that scientists should consider when using agents for science. 🧪 #ArtificialIntelligence

International Women's Day 2026 Nature highlights developments in women’s health research and career guidance for women in science.

International Women’s Day celebrates the Earth’s 4 billion female inhabitants. Nature brings you a collection of the latest on advancements in women’s health and career guidance, advice and inspiration for women in science. 🧪 #IWD2026

Heatmaps showing effect sizes across outcomes at post-test and week 4. Rows list strategies like 'Savouring,' 'Reframing,' 'Moral Elevation.' Columns are 'Agency,' 'Hopelessness,' 'Change expectancy,' 'Readiness,' plus 'Depression' and 'Positive actions/thoughts' in the week 4 heatmap.

A study published in Nature Human Behaviour evaluated 66 self-guided interventions for depression, finding that most improved mental health immediately but only two maintained benefits at 4 weeks. go.nature.com/4rcfwZh 🧪 #mentalhealthresearch

This is figure 1, which shows the anatomy of A. cerropoliciensis based on the new specimen MPCA Pv 377.

A paper in Nature presents a nearly complete fossil of a dinosaur from Argentina that would have weighed less than 1 kg when alive and may be the smallest known dinosaur from South America discovered to date. go.nature.com/4kVlgox #Paleosky 🧪

The image shows two figures, a and b. Figure a shows a map of Europe with thermal positions indicated by color-coded hexagons, ranging from -1.0 to 1.0. Arrows point to "Reduced negative impacts" and "Increased negative impacts." Figure b shows a scatter plot of effect size vs thermal position with a fish illustration on top. "Biomass change estimates" indicated by circle size.

A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution reports that long-term ocean warming reduces global fish biomass by up to 19.8% annually. Warmer years and marine heatwaves were linked to sharp biomass losses of up to 43.4%. go.nature.com/40b6AIB 🧪 🌍

Bimagrumab plus semaglutide alone or in combination for the treatment of obesity: a randomized phase 2 trial - Nature Medicine Bimagrumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting type II activin receptors. In a randomized trial, bimagrumab combined with semaglutide led to up to 17.8 kg weight reduction, surpassing the effects of semaglutide alone (up to 14.2 kg). Notably, the combination preserved lean mass while reducing visceral fat, highlighting its potential for effective obesity management.

A phase 2 clinical trial has demonstrated that bimagrumab, when combined with semaglutide, resulted in significant weight loss for trial participants while maintaining lean muscle mass – suggesting a promising approach for obesity treatment. The findings are published in Nature Medicine. 🧪

The effects of a second pregnancy on women’s brain structure and function - Nature Communications Extending their previous findings of brain changes in a first pregnancy, the authors show that a second pregnancy uniquely alters women’s brains, involving both a further fine-tuning of first-pregnancy effects and distinct changes in other networks.

Extending previous findings of brain changes in a first pregnancy, a study in Nature Communications shows that a second pregnancy uniquely alters women’s brains, involving both a further fine-tuning of first-pregnancy effects and distinct changes in other networks. #Neuroskyence #medsky 🧪

Millennial-aged peat carbon outgassed by large humic lakes in the Congo Basin - Nature Geoscience Two major humic lakes in the Congo Basin emit ancient carbon from nearby peatlands into the atmosphere, as shown by the isotopic signatures of their carbon pools.

Two major humic lakes in the Congo Basin are emitting ancient carbon from nearby peatlands into the atmosphere, reports a study in Nature Geoscience. These findings challenge the prevailing understanding that CO2 emissions from pristine humic lakes are derived from modern, rapidly cycling carbon. 🌍🧪

Women’s health Research into women’s health has suffered from historical neglect and lack of funding.

To mark International Women's Day on 8th March #IWD2026, the #NatureReviews Collection on women's health has been updated (go.nature.com/30kDWG3). The Collection covers various aspects of women's health and includes a new Primer on ovarian cancer from @natrevdiseaseprimers.nature.com

‘No one quite like her’: meet the female colleagues who inspire these award-winning women in science To mark International Women’s Day, Nature asked winners of its awards programmes to nominate a colleague who brings out the best in them.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, held each year on 8 March, Nature asked six previous winners of awards given in partnership with Nature to name a woman who has had a positive impact on their scientific career and well-being. 🧪

Human hippocampal neurogenesis in adulthood, ageing and Alzheimer’s disease - Nature Mapping of neurogenesis in human hippocampi across ages and different cognitive abilities using multiomic single-cell sequencing reveals distinct signatures between cognitive preservation and decline.

Aged adults with extraordinary memory capacity – known as SuperAgers – exhibit a unique neurogenesis profile with a surprisingly high number of young neurons, according to a study published in Nature. 🧪 #Neuroscience

Discovery of the most compact 3+1-type quadruple star system TIC 120362137 - Nature Communications There are only a few 3+1-type stellar systems known. Here the authors show that TIC 120362137 is the most compact hierarchical quadruple star, with three stars revolving within an area smaller than Mercury’s orbit, while the fourth star orbits closer to them than Jupiter from our Sun.

The most compact known example of a 3+1-type quadruple star system, where a star orbits a triple star system, is presented in Nature Communications. 🧪 🔭

Light curves of WOH G64.

Massive stars usually evolve gradually over millennia, but according to an article in Nature Astronomy, extreme star WHO G64 shifted from red to yellow in just a year, prompting the question whether this is due intrinsic instability or interaction with a hidden companion.
go.nature.com/4cYLEMp 🔭 🧪

Clonal-aggregative multicellularity tuned by salinity in a choanoflagellate - Nature The choanoflagellate Choanoeca flexa forms motile and contractile cell monolayers purely clonally, purely aggregatively or through a combination of both processes depending on environmental conditions.

A study in Nature shows that the single-celled form of a tiny, aquatic organism can turn into a multicellular version by three different routes. The discovery adds insight to the possible origins of multicellular life, suggesting a previously unrecognized degree of flexibility. 🧪