Self-assembled structures are typically demonstrated on small scales under well-controlled lab environments. Here, the authors present a roll-to-roll process for the continuous manufacturing of square-meters of self-assembled cellulose-based mechano-chromic films and demonstrate the recording of pressure profiles generated by foot-imprints in real time.

Nucleosomes compact the genome and regulate access to specific DNA sequences. Here the authors employ single-molecule FRET studies to characterize nucleosome dynamics at different salt concentrations and dissect nucleosome disassembly into elementary steps.

The presence of magnetic fields in protostellar jets has been predicted theoretically, but its experimental confirmation has been elusive so far. Here, the authors report the detection of SiO line polarisation in the HH 211 protostellar jet, indicative of the onset of magnetic fields.

Plant functional traits may help distinguish introduced species that will become invasive from those that do not. Here, Divíšek et al. show that functional profiles of naturalized plant species are similar to natives, while those of invasive plant species exist at the edge of the functional trait space.

Species extinction risk is difficult to measure and often lags behind the pace of increasing threats. Here, the authors demonstrate how monitoring changes in cumulative human pressures could be used to rapidly assess potential change in species’ conservation status.

Boron is one of the main proxies for seawater-derived fluids in subduction zone volcanics and it is vital to characterise the location and concentration of boron in the oceanic lithosphere. Here the authors show that boron concentration in the mantle of downgoing slabs has been overestimated, because boron is strongly decoupled from water in the hydration process.

The treatment of brain metastases is often limited by the ability to diagnose their origins. Here the authors generate DNA methylomes from the three most frequent types of brain metastases, identify epigenetic signatures specific to each type of metastasis and construct a DNA methylation-based classifier (BrainMETH) to advance brain metastasis diagnosis.

Nucleosomes compact the genome and regulate access to specific DNA sequences. Here the authors employ single-molecule FRET studies to characterize nucleosome dynamics at different salt concentrations and dissect nucleosome disassembly into elementary steps.

Diane Bolton and colleagues review the impact of single-cell technologies on the study of host–pathogen interaction. They discuss the revolutionary impact these have had for facilitating a greater understanding of the properties of host cells harbouring infection, the pathogen-specific immune responses, and the mechanisms pathogens have evolved to escape host control.

The treatment of brain metastases is often limited by the ability to diagnose their origins. Here the authors generate DNA methylomes from the three most frequent types of brain metastases, identify epigenetic signatures specific to each type of metastasis and construct a DNA methylation-based classifier (BrainMETH) to advance brain metastasis diagnosis.

Diane Bolton and colleagues review the impact of single-cell technologies on the study of host–pathogen interaction. They discuss the revolutionary impact these have had for facilitating a greater understanding of the properties of host cells harbouring infection, the pathogen-specific immune responses, and the mechanisms pathogens have evolved to escape host control.

Pro-inflammatory factors implicated for the onset of arthritis often have systematic effects, yet arthritis symptoms are mostly limited to the joints. Here the authors show that mechanical strain at the joints promotes the recruitment of monocyte and their differentiation into bone-eroding osteoclast to contribute this tissue specificity.