How the brain’s amygdala reacts when making decisions to avoid losses Summary Humans explore unfamiliar options more when trying to avoid losses than when pursuing gains. Researchers found that activity…
This is the world’s largest ‘mosquito factory’: its goal is to stop dengue Summary The Wolbito do Brasil facility in Curitiba is the world’s largest production site for Aedes aegypti…
Flies evolved a shock-absorber tissue used during embryonic development Summary The cephalic furrow — a fold of tissue that appears early in Drosophila embryos separating the head from the trunk…
Compression causes cancer cells to start spreading Summary According to the ‘grow or go’ model, cancer cells can switch between proliferative and invasive states. A new study using a zebrafish…
How academics and ‘big tech’ can learn from one another Summary Steven C. Currall argues that academic–industry collaborations can deliver huge benefits but frequently founder on cultural clashes, misaligned incentives…
Ancient DNA clarifies the early history of the Slavs Summary Steffen Patzold reviews a new Nature paper by Gretzinger et al. that uses ancient DNA to investigate the origins and…
The diversity of microbial enzymes that turn a pollutant into an inert gas Summary Researchers report the discovery of a previously unknown family of bacterial enzymes that reduce nitrous oxide…
Ant queens produce sons of two distinct species Summary New evidence reviewed by Jessica Purcell highlights an extraordinary reproductive system in the Iberian harvester ant (Messor ibericus). Juvé et al.…
Depriving brain tumours of an amino acid could enhance chemotherapy Summary Researchers report that glioblastoma — the most aggressive adult brain cancer — scavenges the amino acid serine to fuel…
Damaged bridges flex and twist to prevent collapse Summary Steel truss bridges — built from connected frameworks of members — can sometimes survive the sudden loss of a load-bearing element…
