Ant queens produce sons of two distinct species
Ant queens produce sons of two distinct species Summary Ants are famous for strange reproductive tricks, and a new Nature News & Views piece (discussing Juvé et al.) shows that…
The diversity of microbial enzymes that turn a pollutant into an inert gas
The diversity of microbial enzymes that turn a pollutant into an inert gas Summary Researchers report the discovery of a previously unknown bacterial protein family that can reduce the potent…
Earth’s capacity to store carbon could max out surprisingly soon
Earth’s capacity to store carbon could max out surprisingly soon Summary A new study published in Nature finds that the planet’s practical, low-risk capacity to store carbon dioxide in stable…
Damaged bridges flex and twist to prevent collapse
Damaged bridges flex and twist to prevent collapse Summary Steel truss bridges — built from networks of connected members — can sometimes survive the sudden loss of a load-bearing element…
Cocaine-activated ion channels engineered to break the loop of addiction in rats
Cocaine-activated ion channels engineered to break the loop of addiction in rats Summary Researchers have created synthetic ion channels that are selectively activated by cocaine and used them to rewire…
‘Almost unimaginable’: these ants are different species but share a mother
‘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 that are genetically…
Ancient DNA connects large-scale migration with the spread of Slavs
Ancient DNA connects large-scale migration with the spread of Slavs Summary This Nature paper reports new ancient DNA from a dense temporal and geographic transect — primarily the Elbe–Saale region…
Seismic detection of a 600-km solid inner core in Mars
Seismic detection of a 600-km solid inner core in Mars Summary This Nature paper reports seismic evidence for a solid inner core (IC) in Mars about 600 km in radius.…
Rewiring of cortical glucose metabolism fuels human brain cancer growth
Rewiring of cortical glucose metabolism fuels human brain cancer growth Summary This Nature paper uses clinical stable‑isotope infusions (glucose and other tracers), mass spectrometry and metabolic flux analysis (MFA) in…
Dynamic fibroblast–immune interactions shape recovery after brain injury
Dynamic fibroblast–immune interactions shape recovery after brain injury Summary This Nature paper maps how central nervous system (CNS) fibroblasts respond to focal brain injury and how their interactions with immune…