Browse Articles

Discover research articles across all indexed journals

Defective transcription of AAGAG satellite DNA causes sex-ratio meiotic drive in Drosophila

Nature Communications Tomohiro Kumon, Mami Nakamizo-Dojo, Amelie A. Raz et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72480-y

Abstract Male germ cells have complex transcriptomes, with a large fraction of the genome being transcribed. This includes protein-coding genes (often not translated), non-coding DNA, and repetitive DNA, such as transposons and satellite DNA, which are normally silenced as heterochromatin. The significance of such widespread transcription remains unknown. Here, we show that a heterochromatin protein, HP2, is required for the transcription of AAGAG satellite DNA in Drosophila spermatocytes. HP2 depletion leads to abnormal retention of heterochromatin histone marks (H3K9me3) and spermatid death during sperm DNA packaging, leading to a model that transcription of AAGAG satellite DNA facilitates the remodeling of its heterochromatic nature in preparation for sperm DNA packaging. Strikingly, the severity of the spermatid death correlates with the amount of AAGAG satellite DNA carried by the spermatids, leading to preferential death of Y-chromosome-containing spermatids over X-containing spermatids, and hence sex-ratio meiotic drive phenotype. We propose that widespread spermatocyte transcription may reflect the process of chromatin remodeling to allow sperm DNA packaging. We further propose that differential composition and amount of satellite DNA on chromosomes may underlie naturally occurring male meiotic drive.

Soil strengthening via temperature-optimized MICP within 20 hours: a laboratory investigation

Scientific Reports Angran Tian, Lok Hei Wong, Xiaojie Tang et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-49068-z

Unite against Malaria: challenges and achievements in malaria control around the globe

Nature Communications Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72243-9

Human disturbance and higher temperatures are linked to amphibian chytrid fungus in Catalonia, Northeastern Spain

Scientific Reports Maria Puig Ribas, Xavier Fernández Aguilar, Johan Espunyes et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-45967-3

Spontaneous efficient degradation of polyesters in soil by an enzyme@MOF platform

Nature Communications Jiaxin Cui, Xuan Gao, Jiangyue Yu et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72354-3

Sub-6 GHz MIMO antenna system with enhanced performance based on compact decoupled PIFA pairs for future handheld devices

Scientific Reports H. J. Basherlou, N. O. Parchin, C. H. See et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-49235-2

Abstract This study presents a new MIMO antenna design with enhanced bandwidth and minimized mutual coupling, tailored for sub-6 GHz cellular applications. The design consists of eight compact planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs) with discrete feeding, strategically arranged along the left and right edges of a 75 mm × 150 mm² smartphone PCB using an FR4 substrate. To ensure seamless integration with smartphone circuitry, a single-sided layout is adopted, where both the radiating elements and the ground-connected parasitic structures are printed on the same layer of the substrate. To improve bandwidth and isolation between closely spaced elements (edge-to-edge spacing = 1.5 mm), modified T-shaped stubs are placed between adjacent antennas. The design achieves wideband operation from 3.25 to 4.25 GHz with good impedance matching (S₁₁ < − 10 dB), mutual coupling suppression (~ 13 dB), and excellent diversity metrics such as low envelope correlation coefficient (ECC < 0.05) and total active reflection coefficient (TARC < − 20 dB). The antenna performance remains robust under practical use cases including talk-mode and double-hand scenarios. It also supports a full-ground configuration by repositioning elements along the periphery, with negligible degradation in matching. Further, the link budget analysis confirms reliable communication over long distances (> 1.5 km), accounting for polarization and impedance mismatch losses. Finally, to demonstrate scalability, a broadband mmWave phased array (27–44 GHz) is co-designed on the same PCB, enabling future sub-6 GHz and mmWave 5G/6G smartphone integration. With its compact, wideband, low-SAR and multi-mode operation, the proposed antenna system is a strong candidate for next-generation handheld wireless platforms.

RPSA-OLFM4 axis governs neutrophil migration against bacterial infection and sepsis

Nature Communications Tong Wu, Xiangrui Yang, Siyu Lei et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72365-0

Adaptive neighborhood aggregation graph neural network for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Scientific Reports Jinhua Sheng, Haowen Zhong, Qiao Zhang et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-50351-2

Strained Ni-WC nano-islands by localized accelerated carbonization emulate noble-metal RWGS activity

Nature Communications Daoping Ye, Zihe Wu, Yifan Feng et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72283-1

Melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance of 2 lx maintains and restores physiological and neurophysiological circadian rhythms in rats

Scientific Reports Seohyeon Kim, Hyeji Yu, Kang-Min Choi et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-49695-6

Electrostatic-confinement-induced regioselective C-H functionalization of polyolefins

Nature Communications Mengen Zhang, Ruijia Wang, Yunbo Yu et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72562-x

In vitro study on the thermal effects of holmium laser lithotripsy in flexible ureteroscopy

Scientific Reports Guo Yinuo, Wang Qing, Lu Jianxin et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-47395-9

Covalency modulation doping enables durable high-voltage operation in NiO-based all-solid-state electrochromic devices

Nature Communications Dukang Yan, Huawei Bai, Liwei Cao et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71949-0

Predicting enzymatic cleavage sites in cyclic peptides with non-canonical amino acids using a Graphormer model trained on MetID user data

Scientific Reports Paula Cifuentes, Ramon Adàlia, Lisa A. Vasicek et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-50335-2

Revealing Phase-Dependent Catalytic Behavior of Ru Nanoparticles via Operando TEM

Nature Communications Yingying Jiang, Juan Manuel Arce-Ramos, Khakimjon Saidov et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72073-9

Interaction of Capsicum spp. with Bemisia tabaci and pepper yellow leaf curl virus (PepYLCV) Disease

Scientific Reports Rinda Kirana, Karden Mulya, Ika Cartika et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-50183-0

Power management for triboelectric and electrostatic generators enabling continuous and stable power delivery

Nature Communications Zeyuan Cao, Junchi Teng, Yongjia Zhao et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72323-w

Abstract Power management is essential for effectively utilizing energy harvested from triboelectric and electrostatic generators. However, current strategies suffer from control and conversion challenges such as inefficient switch designs and load-dependent outputs, resulting in substantial performance degradation when powering practical electronics. Here, we present an efficient and universal power management strategy to improve energy utilization. It features a self-powered peak-detection switch for enhancing energy harvesting, a voltage elevation strategy to improve AC–DC conversion, and an energy regulation module that dynamically allocates the harvested energy to ensure a continuous and stable power supply. Benefiting from the switch’s power-boosting mechanism, the output power after power management reaches 1.08 times the generator’s optimal AC output. This enables the reliable operation of a 20 dBm LoRa node powered by a 55-mm-radius electret generator at 36 rpm. This work facilitates the integration of triboelectric and electrostatic generators into practical electronic systems.

Impact of post-transfusion hemoglobin levels on survival in critically Ill patients: a machine learning–based causal inference analysis

Scientific Reports Min Woo Kang, Soojeong Yun, Seung Min Song et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-50363-y

Revising the tectonic chronology of East–West Antarctica since the breakup of East Gondwana

Nature Communications Hakkyum Choi, Seung-Sep Kim, Sookwan Kim et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72500-x

Abstract East–West Antarctic separation from ~43–11 Ma is well-documented through marine magnetic anomalies in the western Ross Sea, yet multiple lines of evidence suggest earlier extension, including Victoria Land uplift (~55–50 Ma) and reconstruction gaps between the Lord Howe Rise and Campbell Plateau. Here, we present marine magnetic data from the Central Basin between the Hallett Ridge and Iselin Bank revealing oceanic crust formed between Chrons 24–20 (~53–43 Ma), confirming earlier onset of East–West Antarctic motion. Forward modeling favors asymmetric extension as the preferred mechanism for forming the ~80 km wide Central Basin. This timing coincides with Transantarctic Mountains uplift and the termination of Tasman Sea spreading (~53 Ma), which redirected extensional forces southward along triple junction pathways into the Ross Sea. Our findings extend East–West Antarctic motion ~10 million years earlier than previously established, resolving the temporal discrepancy with Victoria Land uplift and reducing long-standing misfits in Southwest Pacific reconstructions.

Analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in a paddy field-ditch-pond system in a typical polder area of southern China

Scientific Reports Yanxin Pan, Chengfu Yuan, Siyuan Jing et al. Apr 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-50525-y