Controversial COVID study that promoted unproven treatment retracted after four-year saga

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04014-9 Paper on hydroxychloroquine led by French researcher Didier Raoult is second-most-cited study ever to be withdrawn. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Moral conundrums and more: Books in brief

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04165-9 Andrew Robinson reviews five of the best science picks. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

How Los Angeles neighbours partnered to show under-represented students the ‘unspoken rules’ to success

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03983-1 Laurie Barge and Arezoo Khodayari created an internship between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and California State University, Los Angeles to launch the careers of students from minority backgrounds. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

What were some of the biggest stories of 2024? Join us for the Nature Podcast quiz!

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04227-y In a fiendish quiz our contestants battle to remember the details of the science stories that made 2024 special. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

This digital-memory device keeps its cool even at 600 °C

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04109-3 A battery-like technology uses a metal called tantalum to create an equivalent of digital 0s and 1s. | Continue reading


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Giant study finds untrustworthy trials pollute gold-standard medical reviews

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04206-3 Two-year collaboration aims to create tools to help counter the tide of flawed research. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Pioneering journal eLife faces major test after loss of impact factor

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04199-z The open-access title’s bold publishing model has bought long-bubbling conflicts to the fore. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Sea ice is shrinking during Antarctic winter: here’s what it means for Earth’s oceans and atmosphere

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04078-7 The extent of Antarctic sea ice dropped precipitously in 2023. Analysis shows that this decline has increased the transfer of ocean heat to the atmosphere — in turn affecting ocean circulation and the freq … | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Vapour-deposited thin films raise the possibility of portable nuclear clocks

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04125-3 A rare isotope, thorium-229, exhibits a unique low-energy nuclear transition that could form the basis of a precise nuclear clock. Observation of this transition in vapour-deposited thin films, which requi … | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Machine learning helps to determine the diverse conformations of RNA molecules

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04134-2 An innovative technique called HORNET uses atomic force microscopy and a machine-learning architecture called a deep neural network to recapitulate the 3D structures of individual RNA molecules. This metho … | Continue reading


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A dormant overmassive black hole in the early Universe

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08210-5 A dormant supermassive black hole at high redshift that is substantially overmassive relative to its host galaxy has been detected, indicating a much larger population of dormant black holes around the epo … | Continue reading


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Four-component protein nanocages designed by programmed symmetry breaking

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07814-1 Using viral capsid architectures as template for design, higher triangulation number nanocages that require symmetry breaking offer potential advances in targeted delivery and antigen-displaying vaccines. | Continue reading


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Growth-based monolithic 3D integration of single-crystal 2D semiconductors

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08236-9 Single-crystalline materials can be grown on amorphous surfaces at below 400 °C, enabling monolithic three-dimensional integration of vertically stacked transistors. | Continue reading


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Record-low Antarctic sea ice in 2023 increased ocean heat loss and storms

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08368-y The record-low Antarctic sea-ice decline in 2023 substantially altered Southern Ocean–atmosphere interaction leading to unprecedented wintertime turbulent ocean heat loss to the atmosphere, enhanced stormi … | Continue reading


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Tidally driven remelting around 4.35 billion years ago indicates the Moon is old

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08231-0 Lunar rock and zircon ages were reset by a remelting event driven by the Moon’s orbital evolution, reconciling existing discrepancies in estimates for the formation time of the Moon and the crystallization … | Continue reading


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Synaptic basis of feature selectivity in hippocampal neurons

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08325-9 A temporally asymmetric synaptic plasticity kernel results from bidirectional modifications of synaptic weights around the induction of a place field. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Determining structures of RNA conformers using AFM and deep neural networks

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07559-x HORNET, a method that uses unsupervised machine learning and deep neural networks to analyse atomic force microscopy data enables structural determination of RNA molecules in multiple conformations. | Continue reading


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Atmospheric rivers cause warm winters and extreme heat events

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08238-7 Seasons with more frequent atmospheric rivers (ARs) also have warmer than average temperatures in many mid-latitude regions, and AR events are associated with temperature anomalies of 5–10 °C above the cli … | Continue reading


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Engineered extrachromosomal oncogene amplifications promote tumorigenesis

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08318-8 Large extrachromosomal DNAs are engineered using a CRISPR- and Cre–loxP-based approach and shown to drive cancer in mouse models, with potential applications in determining the role of oncogene amplificati … | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Timely TGFβ signalling inhibition induces notochord

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08332-w Through analysis of developing chick embryos and in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells, a study develops a method to generate a model of the human trunk with a notochord. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Hierarchical design of pseudosymmetric protein nanocages

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08360-6 A new computational method for design of pseudosymmetric self-assembling protein nanomaterials has resulted in purification of cage-like protein assemblies containing 960 subunits with a diameter of 96 nm. | Continue reading


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Terahertz field-induced metastable magnetization near criticality in FePS3

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08226-x Intense terahertz pulses are used to induce metastable magnetization with a remarkably long lifetime of more than 2.5 milliseconds in a van der Waals antiferromagnet, FePS3. | Continue reading


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Spatial transcriptomic clocks reveal cell proximity effects in brain ageing

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08334-8 A spatially resolved single-cell transcriptomics map of the mouse brain at different ages reveals signatures of ageing, rejuvenation and disease, including ageing effects associated with T cells and rejuve … | Continue reading


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Diatom phytochromes integrate the underwater light spectrum to sense depth

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08301-3 This study demonstrates that diatoms with phytochrome photoreceptors can detect and functionally respond to the entire visible light spectrum through these sensors, enabling them to sense depth and regulat … | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Trimodal thermal energy storage material for renewable energy applications

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08214-1 A eutectic phase change material composed of boric and succinic acids demonstrates a transition at around 150 °C, with a record high reversible thermal energy uptake and thermal stability over 1,000 heatin … | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

229ThF4 thin films for solid-state nuclear clocks

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08256-5 Laser excitation of the 229Th isomer, potentially relevant for nuclear clocks, is reported in thorium fluoride thin films, which are less radioactive and amenable to integration compared with existing thor … | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

The conformational space of RNase P RNA in solution

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08336-6 Using a deep neural network and statistical analyses of atomic force microscopy images of individual RNA molecules enables the mapping of RNA conformational space in solution. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Lithocholic acid binds TULP3 to activate sirtuins and AMPK to slow down ageing

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08348-2 The molecular mechanism underlying how lithocholic acid recapitulates the lifespan and healthspan benefits of calorie restriction is revealed to involve TULP3, sirtuins, v-ATPase and AMPK. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Lithocholic acid phenocopies anti-ageing effects of calorie restriction

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08329-5 Lithocholic acid is one of the metabolites upregulated during calorie restriction, and treatment of mice, worms and flies with this bile acid alone can reproduce the health benefits of calorie restriction. | Continue reading


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Nucleosome fibre topology guides transcription factor binding to enhancers

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08333-9 Motif grammar on nucleosome fibres acts as signpost elements, directing TF combinatorial binding to enhancers. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Scalable production of ultraflat and ultraflexible diamond membrane

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08218-x Edge-exposed exfoliation using sticky tape is shown to be a simple and reliable method for scaling up the production of ultrathin, ultraflat and ultraflexible polycrystalline diamond membranes for diverse … | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Ancient genomes reveal a deep history of treponemal disease in the Americas

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08515-5 Ancient genomes reveal a deep history of treponemal disease in the Americas | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Give ‘science for peace’ a chance

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04114-6 An initiative from two research organizations to boost the role of science in peace-making in Africa needs to be supported. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

The small-drone revolution is coming — scientists need to ensure it will be safe

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04167-7 China’s low-altitude aviation economy is poised to become a trillion-yuan industry in 2025 — if safety and security challenges can be overcome. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

In the space between the seconds

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04073-y When the party’s over. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Dread and determination: how climate scientists are preparing for Trump 2.0

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04221-4 Anxiety, uncertainty and a renewed sense of purpose are surging in the community. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

The Nature Podcast festive spectacular 2024

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04225-0 Games, seasonal science songs, and Nature’s 10. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 28 days ago

Daily briefing: How synthetic ‘mirror life’ bacteria could infect the world

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04223-2 We explore what influence Elon Musk might have on US science and hear why creating ‘mirror life’ might be a very, very bad idea. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

Animals in sticky situations

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04121-7 Descriptions of different creatures’ attachment mechanisms, and muddy banks of calm in the Indian Ocean, in our weekly dip into Nature’s archive. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

Can AI-generated podcasts boost science engagement?

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03960-8 Researchers are using artificial intelligence to keep up with the literature and spread the word about their work. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

Science in 2025: the events to watch for next year

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03943-9 New and repurposed obesity drugs, daring space missions and climate-action policies are among the developments set to shape research in the coming year. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

Northern India and Pakistan are yet again engulfed in a haze of pollution — but a lasting solution is possible

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04118-2 Instead of focusing on short-term fixes, cities such as Lahore and Delhi need a comprehensive, year-round plan to reduce air pollution. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

‘The next five years will be a crucial time’: meet the analyst shaping space policy

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04202-7 Amid rapid space-industry growth, Jamie Morin, head of Aerospace’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy, highlights the need for international cooperation. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

A message of peace to Jupiter’s moon from actually all of humankind

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04192-6 A message of peace to Jupiter’s moon from actually all of humankind | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

Facilitate the move of academia from X to Bluesky

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04191-7 Facilitate the move of academia from X to Bluesky | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

If anyone’s reading this Correspondence in 1,130 years’ time, please let us know

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04193-5 If anyone’s reading this Correspondence in 1,130 years’ time, please let us know | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

How climate change is changing calendars — and what to do about it

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04190-8 How climate change is changing calendars — and what to do about it | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago

CRISPR genome-editing grows up: advanced therapies head for the clinic

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04102-w Gene-editing technologies for cancer and blood disorders are maturing a little more than a year after the first CRISPR drug was approved. | Continue reading


@nature.com | 29 days ago