Compression causes cancer cells to start spreading Summary A brief research briefing summarising a Nature paper that used a zebrafish model of melanoma to show that mechanical compression from surrounding…
Depriving brain tumours of an amino acid could enhance chemotherapy Summary News & Views commentary on a new Nature paper that maps glucose-derived carbon flow in human glioblastoma and surrounding…
Ant queens produce sons of two distinct species Summary The News & Views piece discusses findings by Juvé et al. (published in Nature) showing that the Iberian harvester ant, Messor…
The diversity of microbial enzymes that turn a pollutant into an inert gas Summary Reductase enzymes convert the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) into harmless dinitrogen (N2). A new…
Damaged bridges flex and twist to prevent collapse Summary Steel truss bridges — built from connected members in a framework — can sometimes survive the sudden loss of a load-bearing…
Cocaine-activated ion channels engineered to break the loop of addiction in rats Summary Ion channels have been engineered to be selectively activated by cocaine. These designer channels can either stimulate…
‘Almost unimaginable’: these ants are different species but share a mother Summary Researchers report that queens of the Iberian harvester ant (Messor ibericus) can produce male offspring belonging to a…
Rewiring of cortical glucose metabolism fuels human brain cancer growth Summary This Nature paper uses clinical stable-isotope infusions in patients and complementary tracer experiments in mouse models to compare how…
Dynamic fibroblast–immune interactions shape recovery after brain injury Summary This Nature paper maps how central nervous system (CNS) fibroblasts respond to brain injury, the immune partners that shape their states,…
One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants Summary Researchers report a previously unknown reproductive system in the harvester ant Messor ibericus. Queens of M. ibericus produce…
