Browse Articles

The tangled world of snake taxonomy <b>Snake Men</b> <i>Zach St. George</i> Norton, 2026. 272 pp.

Fringe figures in herpetology advance unlikely (and unchecked) claims in an offbeat taxonomical history

Finite-temperature criticality through quantum annealing

Abstract Critical phenomena at finite temperature underpin a broad range of physical systems, yet their study remains challenging due to computational bottlenecks near phase transitions. Quantum annealers have attracted significant interest as a potential tool for accessing finite temperature criticality beyond classical reach, but their utility in precisely resolving criticality has remained limited by noise, hardware constraints, and thermal fluctuations. Here we overcome these challenges, introducing a sampling protocol that combines real-time temperature inference with fine control of the energy scales throughout experiments. A careful embedding strategy allows us to fully capture the finite-temperature critical behavior of the paradigmatic two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet on toroidal lattices up to 2640 spins. By tuning the energy scale of the system and mitigating device defects, we sample effective Boltzmann distributions extracting both the critical temperature and the associated universal critical exponents. Our approach opens the study of equilibrium and non-equilibrium critical phenomena in a broad class of systems at finite temperature.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of urine SPRY domain-containing suppressor of cytokine signaling box protein 2 for bladder cancer

Ballooning under water

Insect larval buoyancy is controlled by material properties of their air sacs

Ultrasensitive detection of lung inflammation in male mice using immuno-magnetic particle imaging

Dopant-dependent structure–property relationships in functionalized graphene and MWCNTs for sustainable energy applications

Abstract This study investigates the functionalization of carbon-based materials with halogen atoms (fluorine, bromine) and an alkali metal (lithium), subsequently examining the comparative impact of these modifications on their structural, optical, and electrical characteristics. Graphene oxide was modified with fluorine using hydrofluoric acid to produce fluorinated graphene (FG) and with bromide in the form of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) to produce G-TBAB. Separately, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with lithium fluoride to form Li-MWCNTs. The materials were characterized via FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, AFM, and XPS. Optical properties were evaluated using UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy, and electrical behavior was assessed through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The findings demonstrate that among the three materials, FG exhibits the lowest charge transfer resistance (R CT  = 2.54 Ω.cm −2 ) and film resistance (R f  = 1.19 Ω.cm −2 ) in EIS measurements, suggesting more efficient charge transport under the tested conditions. G-TBAB and Li-MWCNTs show distinct EIS parameters, including higher capacitance values R CT 12.91 Ω.cm −2 and 17.73 Ω.cm −2 , which may be relevant for applications where charge accumulation is prioritized. These results indicate that hetero-functionalization of carbon allotropes provides a tunable platform, with each modification (F, Br, or Li) imparting distinct electrical and optical behavior.

Dispatches from the front lines of science <b>Lost in Curiosity</b> <i>Roberta Kwok</i> Sourcebooks, 2026. 368 pp.

Young scientists’ passion and commitment take center stage in a moving portrait of research in action

Molecular profiling and access to treatment for rare cancers in Europe

Morpho-biochemical diversity and elite hybrid selection in amrapali × sensation mango (Mangifera indica L.) progenies

Abstract Mango ( Mangifera indica L.) is among the most valued tropical fruits, recognized for its taste, nutrient profile, and worldwide socio-economic significance. The increasing preference for cultivars with increased sweetness, nutrition and dietary quality has created a strong impetus for targeted and trait-oriented breeding. In this study, 35 hybrids derived from an Amrapali × Sensation cross, along with parents, were comprehensively evaluated for morpho-biochemical diversity, integrating detailed sugar and organic acid profiling with quantitative morphological traits that are critical to fruit quality and consumer demands. The hybrids displayed wide phenotypic variability, with both intermediate and transgressive segregation across fruit, stone, peel, and pulp traits. Fruit size varied substantially (length: 63.71–121.45 mm; weight: 70.48–324.69 g), whereas significant differences were observed in fruit shape, peel thickness, and pulp recovery. Biochemical profiling revealed broad variation in TSS (12.63–22.03 °Brix), sucrose (16.01–74.46 mg/g), glucose (4.55–24.78 mg/g), fructose (5.00–25.41 mg/g), and organic acids, including ascorbic acid (1.79–9.71 mg/g) and citric acid (1.03–11.74 mg/g). Multivariate analyses, including PCA, correlation, and hierarchical clustering, successfully dissected trait variability, with PCA identifying a clear size-quality block and hierarchical clustering grouping progenies into four different clusters. Notably, transgressive segregation for traits such as the pulp: stone ratio (up to 9.28) and TSS (22.03 °Brix) indicates the potential to select superior recombinants among the progeny. MGIDI analysis identified six elite hybrids exhibiting superior multi-trait performance and proximity to the predefined ideotype. Overall, this study demonstrates the identification of superior hybrid progenies and the effectiveness of hybridization among heterozygous mango hybrids in generating improved varieties, while establishing morpho-biochemical profiling and multivariate analysis as strong tools for identifying elite hybrids and ideotypes for future mango improvement programs.

Reinforcement learning control of quantum error correction

Detention of U.S. seismologist by China alarms researchers

Youlin Chen analyzed earthquake data that can also aid nuclear test monitoring

TDP-43 promotes allergen-induced inflammation and influenza A virus replication in airway epithelium

Abstract Current targeted therapeutics for asthma focus on the T2 immune response, providing symptomatic management without addressing the issues of recurrence. Identifying key pathophysiological determinants in airway epithelium enables novel therapeutics to prevent asthma recurrence. Here we demonstrate that TDP-43, as the master regulator of RNA metabolism, is induced in airway epithelial cells by host allergen exposure and promotes asthmatic airway responses through dampening nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) by modulating UPF1 expression, resulting in accumulation of pathogenic and NMD-sensitive transcripts including CHRM1 encoding receptor that transduces the signaling of vagally-derived neurotransmitter acetylcholine. TDP-43 also facilitates airway influenza A virus replication. Intranasal application of lipid nanoparticles carrying antisense oligonucleotides targeting TDP-43 effectively reduce asthma-like pathologies in mice. Our findings indicate that targeting airway TDP-43 is therapeutically possible for asthma and influenza A virus infection-complicated asthma exacerbations.

Deep learning-based boundary-accurate GTV segmentation in glioblastoma using multimodal MRI: a radiotherapy-oriented evaluation

Single-cell multiomics and chromatin structure reveal gene-regulatory dynamics in heart failure

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, yet gene-regulatory mechanisms driving cell type–specific pathologic responses remain undefined. Here, we present the cell type–resolved transcriptomes, chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, and chromatin organization of 13 nonfailing and 23 failing human hearts across all cardiac chambers. Integrative analyses revealed dynamic changes in cell type composition, gene-regulatory programs, and chromatin organization, particularly in cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Mapping cell type–specific enhancer-gene interactions from these analyses enabled the illumination of likely causal genetic contributors to heart failure from genetic association data. Together, these findings provide multimodal gene-regulatory maps of the human heart in health and disease, offering a framework for designing precise, cell type–targeted therapies for treating heart failure.

Ultrafast reconfigurable topological-modulators-based photonic processing accelerator

Optimizing barn-type house geometry for minimum envelope area and first-order transmission heat-loss reduction

Spatially resolved single-cell atlas reveals the macroevolutionary trajectory of animal hearts

Animal hearts display diverse anatomical structures during adaptive evolution. Here, we present a multi-omics atlas of adult hearts from 27 species across chordates, arthropods, and mollusks. Joint analysis indicates that Bilateria hearts share a core gene repertoire, taking a stepwise “add-on” approach as a universal evolutionary strategy. The proto-heart is populated by key cell types, including cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial, and neural cells, which maintained core signatures while evolving with shifts in living environments and corresponding adaptations in the cardiovascular system. Additionally, we reveal an evolutionarily conserved cardiomyocyte state dynamic potentially linked to cardiac development and stress responses. Finally, we identify a common molecular program underpinning chamber evolution from a ventricular foundation. Together, this work establishes a resource for understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of heart evolution.

Scalable phase-change fibres with record thermo-mechanical properties for cooling textiles

Whole-esophageal radiomics and deep learning for predicting the pT and pN categories of resectable esophageal cancer

Programmable design of synthetic plant immune receptors for pathogen protein recognition

The limited diversity and recognition scope of natural plant immune receptors impede resistance breeding against rapidly evolving pathogens. Here we report programmable design of synthetic plant immune receptors (SPIRs). De novo designed binding modules targeting pathogen proteins were grafted into the integrated decoy (ID) domain of a plant immune receptor. SPIRs recognized proteins derived from viral, bacterial, fungal, and oomycete pathogens. Their performance was improved by combining AI-guided protein design with in planta directed evolution, enhancing immune activation while reducing autoactivation. SPIRs exhibited high target specificity and could be stacked for multiplexed recognition of pathogen proteins. Importantly, viral-targeting SPIRs responded to infectious clones of plant viruses, and transgenic plants expressing SPIRs conferred disease resistance. This work establishes a versatile platform for efficient plant immunity engineering.