Brain tumours in mice grow more slowly when starved of key amino acid
Brain tumours in mice grow more slowly when starved of key amino acid Summary Researchers report that many glioblastomas — an aggressive form of brain cancer — scavenge the amino…
Ancient DNA clarifies the early history of the Slavs
Ancient DNA clarifies the early history of the Slavs Summary Steffen Patzold’s News & Views piece discusses a new Nature paper by Gretzinger et al. that uses ancient DNA to…
This is the world’s largest ‘mosquito factory’: its goal is to stop dengue
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 centre for Wolbachia-modified Aedes…
Flies evolved a shock-absorber tissue used during embryonic development
Flies evolved a shock-absorber tissue used during embryonic development Summary Two new studies discussed in Nature reveal the function of the cephalic furrow, a fold of tissue that separates head…
Depriving brain tumours of an amino acid could enhance chemotherapy
Depriving brain tumours of an amino acid could enhance chemotherapy Summary Glioblastoma, the most aggressive adult brain cancer with a very poor prognosis, appears to rely on the amino acid…
Compression causes cancer cells to start spreading
Compression causes cancer cells to start spreading Summary A zebrafish model of skin cancer shows that mechanical compression from surrounding tissues can flip cancer cells from a proliferative state into…
How academics and ‘big tech’ can learn from one another
How academics and ‘big tech’ can learn from one another Summary Steven C. Currall argues that collaborations between academic institutions and large technology firms can yield big benefits but are…
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 have identified a previously unrecognised family of microbial enzymes that reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) to…
Ant queens produce sons of two distinct species
Ant queens produce sons of two distinct species Summary Researchers report a striking reproductive system in the Iberian harvester ant (Messor ibericus). New work (Juvé et al.) shows that these…
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 engineered ion channels that are selectively activated by cocaine to control neuronal excitability in rats. The…