Nature

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.

Nature research paper: Wide-swath altimetry maps bank shapes and storage changes in global rivers

go.nature.com/4lb6El2

How data can help to guide NIH funding policy The US National Institutes of Health has troves of information on grant applications. Analysing it can assist with decision-making on issues such as equity.

The US National Institutes of Health has troves of information on grant applications. Analysing it can assist with decision-making on issues such as equity

go.nature.com/4cAXdJC

Live parrots were carried across the Andes before the Incas’ rise Ancient DNA and other clues from feathers found in modern Peru hint that the ancient Ychsma culture imported birds from the distant Amazon.

Ancient DNA and other clues from feathers found in modern Peru hint that the ancient Ychsma culture imported birds from the distant Amazon

go.nature.com/4rWhOge

'Virtual cell' captures most-basic process of life: bacterial division Researchers simulated nearly every molecule in a bacterial cell — and then watched the cell grow and reproduce.

For the first time, researchers have simulated nearly every chemical reaction in a living bacterial cell

go.nature.com/4lrAulM

Largest Silurian fish illuminates the origin of osteichthyan characters - Nature New findings from articulated head and trunk material of Megamastax amblyodus yield previously unseen morphological details of a Silurian stem osteichthyan.

Nature research paper: Largest Silurian fish illuminates the origin of osteichthyan characters

go.nature.com/47tbGUq

From cancer to Alzheimer’s: could a renewed focus on energy transform biomedicine? Including energy dynamics in research could improve our understanding of diseases and of the healing processes that sustain health.

Including energy dynamics in research could improve our understanding of diseases and of the healing processes that sustain health

go.nature.com/4b2VAmX

Keep calm and be transparent: advice from scientists who retracted their papers Retractions correct the scientific record, but they have stigma attached to them. Some in the research community want that to change.

Retractions, which have long been associated with misconduct or poor scientific practice, can carry a lot of stigma

Some in the research community want that to change

go.nature.com/46R3tJF

Do wet or dry soils trigger thunderstorms? It depends on how the wind blows Satellite data show that wind conditions affect the connection between soil moisture and thunderstorms, which could be used to inform forecasting.

Satellite data show that wind conditions affect the connection between soil moisture and thunderstorms, which could be used to inform forecasting

go.nature.com/4d577TT

Precancerous niche remodelling dictates nascent tumour persistence - Nature A study investigating the emergence of squamous tumours in the upper gastrointestinal tract of the mouse shows that an initial tumour stress response triggers fibroblasts to remodel the underlying stroma, creating a fibronectin-rich precancerous niche that supports tumour survival.

Nature research paper: Precancerous niche remodelling dictates nascent tumour persistence

go.nature.com/4l8AgzC

Forget SkinTok: the real science of skincare and why it matters for your health Skip the complicated regimens and expensive products seen on social media. The science of skin is deep but the recommendations are simple.

Although there are a plethora of products and elaborate routines that promise seemingly flawless skin, maintaining healthy skin often demands a simple approach

go.nature.com/47mzw4e

Lipid metabolism drives dietary effects on T cell ferroptosis and immunity - Nature The susceptibility of mouse and human T cells to ferroptosis is determined by the balance of systemic polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, highlighting a key role for lipid metabolism and dietary composition in regulating T cell function.

Nature research paper: Lipid metabolism drives dietary effects on T cell ferroptosis and immunity

go.nature.com/4rQxKR0

Merlin: a computed tomography vision–language foundation model and dataset - Nature Merlin, a vision–language foundation model trained on a large dataset of paired CT scans, patient record data and radiology reports, demonstrates strong performance across model architectures, diagnostic and prognostic tasks, and external sites.

Nature research paper: Merlin: a computed tomography vision–language foundation model and dataset

go.nature.com/4spiFpo

Microbiota-mediated induction of beige adipocytes in response to dietary cues - Nature In mice, a low-protein diet leads to a gut-microbiota-driven remodelling of adipose tissue towards brown fat, showing that gut microorganisms have a role in detecting and responding to a lack of protein.

Nature research paper: Microbiota-mediated induction of beige adipocytes in response to dietary cues

go.nature.com/4rdQ8Cq

Why ‘quantum proteins’ could be the next big thing in biology Fluorescent proteins with a quantum upgrade could offer unprecedented views inside cells.

“In the past, it might have seemed like, ‘ah, that’s likely never going to work’,” says physicist Ania Jayich. “That’s not true any more.”

go.nature.com/3NdJMF1

How Congress can restore the independence of US science Members must go beyond reinstating US government research spending and re-establish decentralized governance at the National Institutes of Health and other agencies.

Congress must go beyond reinstating US government research spending and re-establish decentralized governance at the NIH and other agencies, says sociologist Natalie B. Aviles.

go.nature.com/4bCwTNh

Daily multivitamin slows signs of biological ageing The supplement’s anti-ageing effect was greater in people who were already biologically older than their years.

The supplement’s anti-ageing effect was greater in people who were already biologically older than their years.

go.nature.com/3Pqu1eB

Eight common errors I see in PhD applications and interviews, and how to avoid them Convince a supervisor that you’re a great fit for their laboratory by preparing questions, honing your personal statement and showcasing strong team-player instincts.

Convince a supervisor that you’re a great fit for their laboratory by preparing questions, honing your personal statement and showcasing strong team-player instincts.

go.nature.com/4s00iHR

Uncharted: Understanding women’s health across the body Disaggregating data by sex is a powerful way to help develop better diagnostics and treatments for women — but researchers say it’s not used enough.

Disaggregating data by sex is a powerful way to help develop better diagnostics and treatments for women — but researchers say it’s not used enough.

go.nature.com/4sApDbv

Mechanism of co-transcriptional cap snatching by influenza polymerase - Nature Structural and biochemical studies of influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (FluPol) in complex with transcribing host RNA polymerase II reveal the molecular mechanisms of RNA cap snatching by FluPol.

Nature research paper: Mechanism of co-transcriptional cap snatching by influenza polymerase

go.nature.com/4rTPL12

How fast does a protein fold? Real-time technique captures the moment Proteins assume complex 3D shapes even faster than does DNA, which is a simpler molecule.

Scientists say they have made some of the first direct measurements of how long it takes an individual, ordinary protein to fold – and the results were surprising.

go.nature.com/3N4UrSD

The missing pieces of menopause science Hormone therapy is back after decades in the shadows. But evidence gaps remain for treating perimenopause — often the most disruptive part of the menopause transition.

Hormone therapy is back after decades in the shadows. But evidence gaps remain for treating perimenopause — often the most disruptive part of the menopause transition.

go.nature.com/4b4kvqh

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.

An eclectic book asks how humans have shaped these ‘queer’ landscapes and how they can be restored.

go.nature.com/4aZAG85

Cell-free chromatin state tracing reveals disease origin and therapy responses - Nature cf-EpiTracing enables automated profiling of histone modifications in cell-free DNA from human plasma, allowing identification of the cells of origin and disease diagnosis.

Nature research paper: Cell-free chromatin state tracing reveals disease origin and therapy responses

go.nature.com/4b32oPZ

Skin cells boost distant antibody responses How the skin enables immune defences is not fully clear. Now a pathway has been found in skin cells that boosts the production of antibodies to protect the whole body.

Crosstalk between the skin and immune cells has historically been viewed as indirect
go.nature.com/4bnLdKm

The oldest articulated bony fish from the early Silurian period - Nature A tiny, articulated, near-complete osteichthyan from the early Silurian Chongqing Lagerstätte, represents the oldest osteichthyan occurrence including microfossils, and the earliest articulated remains of any bony fish in the fossil record.

Nature research paper: The oldest articulated bony fish from the early Silurian period

go.nature.com/3P1GUf0

Identical twins on trial: can DNA testing tell them apart? Nature - In a French criminal trial, conventional DNA analysis couldn’t distinguish between twin brothers, but emerging scientific methods could help in such cases.

An identical twin commits a crime and leaves their DNA at the scene. Can DNA testing reveal which twin is the culprit?

go.nature.com/3OSMZue

‘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 mark International Women’s Day, Nature asked winners of its awards programmes to nominate a colleague who brings out the best in them.

go.nature.com/46EZq32

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

go.nature.com/4lboNPT

International Women’s Day On Sunday 8 March, the world celebrates the achievements and well-being of its 4 billion female inhabitants.

To recognize International Women’s Day, we've curated this collection of articles on the joys and challenges that women in research careers face – plus, some fresh approaches to women’s health research.

go.nature.com/4s2PvwU

Celebrate women in research and the networks that sustain them On International Women’s Day, we celebrate technology pioneers and recognize the mentorship that is necessary to inspire the current generation and those of the future.

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate technology pioneers and recognize the mentorship that is necessary to inspire the current generation and those of the future.

go.nature.com/4umbgcz