The field of metallurgy has made tremendous contributions to human civilization over thousands of years, but conventional metallurgical methods have limitations. Nanotechnology enabled metallurgy is an emerging interdisciplinary domain exploring how nanophases – both ex-situ and in-situ – can be engineered to significantly improve the physical, chemical and mechanical behaviors of metals and alloys. This Collection will present original research investigating how nanotechnologies can be applied to enable unprecedented micro- and nano-structure control and property tuning to improve the processing and manufacturing of metals and alloys.

The potential of machine learning can only be fully exploited if more efficient hardware is developed that meets the special needs of bio-inspired computing schemes. In this respect, non-volatile memory technology using memristive devices in combination with neuromorphic systems is a promising way to such hardware. This Collection provides a platform for interdisciplinary research on unconventional computing with new physical substrates.

This Collection brings together research Articles investigating the Quaternary Period bone assemblages, with special interest in the Pleistocene.

Mountains cover about a quarter of the world’s land surface and provide water and mineral resources, timber and non-timber forest products, and many other food, fiber and fuel products. This Collection provides a platform for interdisciplinary studies of mountain surface processes and their responses to climate change and human activities. Submissions are welcome in areas such as mountain ecology and environment change, degradation and restoration of mountain ecosystems, mountain plants and vegetation, dynamics of debris flows, landslides and soil erosion in mountain areas, and watershed management and development.

Nanotechnology is increasingly transforming agriculture and crop production, enabling the development of a new generation of agrochemicals aimed at reducing negative environmental impacts while maintaining crop yields. This Collection gathers interdisciplinary research focusing on nanoformulation of agrochemicals and other nanotechnological applications in agriculture. It also provides a home for nanotoxicology research and sheds light on how nanomaterials interact with plants, their environment, and other organisms.

This Collection will shed light on the mechanisms of membrane fusion and will include studies on: lipid dynamics, bilayer remodelling, fusion intermediates, and fusion pore dynamics.

Radioisotopes and radiochemical methods find broad application in environmental research and nuclear medicine. This Collection provides an overview on current advances and novel concepts in radioisotope science and applications relating to human health. The Collection includes papers on radionuclide research for medical diagnostics and therapy, including isotope production and purification, radiolabelling and bioconjugation techniques. The Collection also includes papers on the applications of isotopes in environmental research.

This Collection presents original research focusing on epigenetic changes in tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment.

A focus on the latest advances in geochemistry and their impact on ecosystems, and insights into the chemistry of the Earth's crust and mantle.

Explore our most highly accessed biochemistry and molecular biology articles in the first quarter of 2018. Featuring authors from around the World, these papers highlight valuable research within biochemistry and molecular biology from an international community.

Explore our most highly accessed genetics and heredity articles in the first quarter of 2018. Featuring authors from around the World, these papers highlight valuable research within genetics and heredity from an international community.

Explore our most highly accessed neuroscience articles in the first quarter of 2018. Featuring authors from around the World, these papers highlight valuable research within neuroscience from an international community.