Browse Articles

Nobel-winning chemist leaves US to direct AI materials lab in China

Distinct genetic architecture in the tails of complex traits

Abstract Complex traits are highly polygenic, with heritability explained by many hundreds of common variants of small effect together with rare variants of large effect 1 . Yet how this genetic architecture varies along the trait continuum has been underexplored, as has the role of natural selection in shaping this variation. Here we developed an approach based on polygenic risk scores that reveals widespread departures from common-variant architecture in one or both of the tails of 74 quantitative traits. These observations were replicated across ancestries, cohorts and repeated measures and using an alternative family-based approach 2 . Incorporating rare variants identified from sequence data resulted in marked reductions in these deviations, suggesting that rare alleles of large effect are key drivers of trait-tail architecture. Forward simulations showed that stabilizing selection could generate the observed patterns, whereas modelling reproductive success provided empirical support for the role of selection. These findings show that although complex traits are polygenic in the population at large, they have a distinct and less polygenic architecture in their tails due to selection. This has implications for rare-variant discovery and complex trait and disease prediction.

Single-phase gradient-solvation-electrolyte-stabilized Li metal batteries

Anatomy of a seafloor spreading event captured by in situ seismogeodesy

Abstract Over geological time, the growth of the ocean floor involves magmatic and tectonic extension 1 at mid-ocean ridges (MORs). Because seismogeodetic monitoring of these submarine plate boundaries remains challenging 2–7 , little is known about how these systems operate on yearly timescales. Here we report the first, to our knowledge, in situ observation of a rifting event at a MOR segment that combines hydroacoustic, direct-path ranging and bottom-pressure measurements, with repeated seafloor mapping. This event started on 26 April 2024 at the axis of the Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR) near 37° S, two months after instruments had been deployed across the ridge axis and nearby Amsterdam transform fault (TF). The event began as a rapidly migrating swarm of extensional seismicity along the axial valley. It caused 4 m of subsidence of the valley floor and more than a metre of horizontal extension across the valley. We interpret this as the deflation of a sill-like reservoir feeding propagating dykes along the ridge axis. The dykes eventually led to the outpouring of about 160 million m 3 of lava at the seafloor in about 16 days, while inducing both seismic and aseismic slip on valley-bounding normal faults and finally triggering seismic activity on the abutting TFs. Large-scale aseismic slip induced by magmatic processes could therefore be the primary mechanism by which MOR normal faults accrue their displacement, which would account for their well-documented seismic deficit 8,9 .

Multiomic profiling links L1 retrotransposition to genomic instability and ecDNA in bladder cancer

Abstract Bladder cancer is frequent and highly recurrent. Despite recent advances, knowledge gaps remain in molecular mechanisms underlying disease progression. In this study, we apply integrated multi-omic analyses to a cohort of 48 bladder cancer patients to comprehensively profile genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, and spatial features. Combining cell-free DNA sequencing, long-read tumor DNA-sequencing, RNA-sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics, we explore molecular alterations driving bladder cancer. We find frequent somatic LINE-1 (L1) insertions, and show that these L1 insertions are active and occur early in bladder cancer development. We link somatic L1 insertion with downstream genomic rearrangements and chromosomal instability, including increased structural variant and extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) counts in patients with high L1 counts. We identify variable ecDNA enrichment across tissue architecture, with highest enrichment overlapping differential expression of APOBEC3B and immune response pathways. In summary, our results support a model whereby L1 retrotransposition triggers downstream genomic instability and viral mimicry response.

Modulating nonequilibrium electron–phonon interactions and energy relaxation in MXenes by surface-anchored Mo3S7 nanoclusters

Abstract Electron–phonon (e–ph) interactions govern photoinduced nonequilibrium dynamics of MXenes, determining hot-carrier relaxation and parasitic heat accumulation. However, strategies to deliberately modulate these interactions through chemical control, together with mechanistic understanding, remain underexplored. Here, we demonstrate the effective modulation of nonequilibrium e–ph interactions in Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene via surface-anchored Mo 3 S 7 nanoclusters, which introduce a rapid energy harvesting pathway competing with intrinsic e–ph relaxation. Using mild ligand substitution, Mo 3 S 7 nanoclusters are densely and homogenously anchored onto Ti 3 C 2 T x via coordination bonding between Mo centers and O-terminations. Femtosecond transient absorption and optical-pump terahertz-probe spectroscopy reveal an ultrafast, sub-100 fs nonthermal electron and/or energy extraction, with efficiency increasing from ~28.6 % at 1.55 eV to ~38.2 % at 3.88 eV. This excitation-energy-dependent enhancement is enabled by improved energetic alignment between hot electrons in Ti 3 C 2 T x and the conduction-band manifold of Mo 3 S 7 . The competitive depletion of nonthermal electrons suppresses coherent A 1g phonon excitation, reducing effective e–ph interactions. Our study offers a viable strategy for modulating e–ph interactions in MXenes, advancing hot carrier relaxation and thermal management in next-generation optoelectronic devices.

Sea-floor spreading captured by undersea observatory

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of a Tb(IV) polyoxometalate

Abstract There has been a renaissance in high valent lanthanide chemistry, which has resulted in the first examples of tetravalent praseodymium (Pr) and terbium (Tb) in molecular systems. These feats have been achieved with tailored ligands that facilitate tetravalent lanthanide stability in non-aqueous conditions. The next step in realizing the potential of high valent lanthanide chemistry is moving towards complexes that are stable in ambient and aqueous conditions. In this investigation, we advance this paradigm by obtaining definitive evidence of Tb(IV) in a molecular system under aqueous conditions utilizing the lacunary Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate, K 10 P 2 W 17 O 61 •20H 2 O. Herein we present the single crystal structure of K 16 Tb(IV)(P 2 W 17 O 61 ) 2 •39.85H 2 O (Tb(IV)W 34 ) as well as extensive spectroscopic evidence obtained via UV–Vis-NIR, X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy, continuous wave X-band electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and SQUID magnetometry measurements to confirm the oxidation state of Tb in W 34 complexes as +4.

Observation of Floquet rotational super-radiance

Episodic planetesimal disruptions triggered by dissipation of gas disk

The minor spliceosome component U4atac regulates JAK/STAT signaling to modulate hematopoiesis and immune responses in Drosophila melanogaster

The U1 snRNP protein U1C and Helix H of U1 snRNA are critical for small molecule splicing modulator function

Abstract Risdiplam and branaplam represent two classes of small-molecule splicing modulators that promote U1 snRNP recognition of weak non-canonical GA/GU-containing 5’ splice sites (ss). We demonstrate that branaplam enhances recognition of these 5’ ss by reconstituted U1 snRNP in vitro, and that this effect depends on the ZnF domain of U1C and Helix H of U1 snRNA, but not U1A or U1-70K. We also demonstrate that branaplam enhances the weak 5’ ss recognition through a dual act of strengthening the U1 snRNP–5’ ss interaction and U1 snRNP–U1C interaction. In cells, depletion of U1C reduces or abolishes compound-induced exon inclusion for most cassette exons. Interestingly, a subset of cassette exons become responsive to compound only upon U1C knockdown, supporting a model in which U1C stabilizes specific conformations at the 5’ ss–U1 snRNA interface in a context-dependent manner that can either facilitate or hinder compound binding. Surprisingly, risdiplam shows no effect on weak 5’ ss recognition in vitro, suggesting additional cellular factors are required for its activity.

Ocean floor witnessed splitting apart for the first time — releasing lava

Long-read sequencing of single cell-derived melanoma sublines reveals divergent and parallel genomic and epigenomic evolutionary trajectories

Abstract Tumor evolution is driven by various mutational processes, ranging from single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) to large structural variants (SVs) to dynamic shifts in DNA methylation. Current short-read sequencing methods struggle to accurately capture the full spectrum of these genomic and epigenomic alterations due to inherent technical limitations. To overcome that, here we introduce an approach to identify and analyze the genomic and epigenetic events in different stages of tumoral evolution from long-read sequencing of single-cell derived sublines. We then use it to profile 23 sublines of a mouse cutaneous melanoma cell line, characterized with distinct growth phenotypes and treatment responses. We develop a computational framework for harmonization and joint analysis of different variant types in the evolutionary context. Uniquely, our framework enables detection of recurrent amplifications of putative driver genes, generated by independent SVs across different lineages, suggesting parallel evolution. In addition, our approach revealed gradual and lineage-specific methylation changes associated with aggressive clonal phenotypes. We also show our set of phylogeny-constrained variant calls along with openly released sequencing data can be a valuable resource for the development and benchmarking of computational methods.

Verification of the Outer Space Treaty with cosmic protons

Strain-induced faceting of Ti4O7 for active chlorine electrosynthesis

Dual-physics programmable metasurfaces for dynamical controls of acoustics and electromagnetics

Ultrafast non-volatile charge storage and mid-infrared photoluminescence in LuminoMem tellurium devices for in-memory computing

Author Correction: Molecular mechanisms of receptor recognition and antibody neutralization of coxsackievirus A6

Biophysical modeling of anatomically realistic prenatal cortical folding development

Abstract Cortical folds encode the architecture of human cognition, yet the mechanisms that transform the smooth fetal cortex into its convoluted geometry remain elusive. Biophysical modeling enables mechanistic insight into cortical morphogenesis, but existing models often lack anatomical realism and fail to capture key hallmarks and morphometrics of dynamic cortical folding in the developing human brain. Here, we introduce a whole-brain developmental framework that integrates region-specific, data-driven growth laws with anatomically realistic cortical geometry to enable biologically interpretable modeling of cortical morphogenesis during gestation. Growth fields derived from large-scale prenatal magnetic resonance imaging data capture spatiotemporal variations in cortical expansion and thickness across parcellated regions. Incorporating heterogeneous growth yields folding patterns that match key anatomical landmarks and quantitative morphometrics from human imaging. Systematic perturbations of geometry and growth attributes delineate control parameters that produce realistic morphological variability and replicate clinically atypical brain phenotypes consistent with lissencephaly, pachygyria, and polymicrogyria. This framework provides a quantitative foundation for elucidating the mechanisms of typical and atypical fetal brain development.