Nature Briefing in 2023

A polar-bear-fur-inspired jumper is thinner than a down jacket and just as warm. Plus, a GPT-powered robot chemist might be the best lab partner and ten of the best science books of 2023.

Doctors have raised concerns that a commercial cancer test produces high levels of false negatives and false positives. Plus, a surge in extreme forest fires fuels global emissions and what quantum theory implies about determinism.

Sexism harms people and is one of the biggest sources of public funding inefficiency. Plus, 12% of bird species probably driven to extinction by humans and COVID-19 vaccines lower children’s risk of long COVID.

Tips from career experts on how to land a scientific position even in a struggling economy. Plus, the science events to watch for in 2024 and cats play fetch, but only on their own terms.

ChatGPT is the first non-human addition to the list of people who shaped science. Plus, DeepMind AI outdoes human mathematicians on unsolved problem and chatbot can help to bridge political divides.

An experimental fusion lab is sparking hope for a future power source. Plus, a bullying scandal has scuppered a storied astronomy department and Science names GLP-1 weightloss drugs as its breakthrough of the year.

Research is giving insight into the minds of cows, pigs, and other livestock. Plus, aspects of the human genome are unique to Indigenous Australians, and a first glimpse at a tyrannosaur’s last meal.

Sensitivity to the hormone GDF15 might be the reason that some people experience hyperemesis gravidarum. Plus, why stressed mice sleep poorly and Nature’s pick of ten people who changed science in 2023.

The number of retractions this year has passed 10,000 as publishers struggle to clean up a slew of sham papers and peer-review fraud. Plus, COP28 agreement names and shames fossil fuels and CAR-T therapy shows promise against autoimmune diseases.

Researchers are trying to understand how prolonged cannabis use can affect young people. Plus, a ‘biocomputer’ combines lab-grown brain tissue with electronic hardware and COP28 overruns amid a deadlock over the phasing out of fossil fuels.

The naive use of AI is driving a deluge of unreliable, useless or wrong research. Plus, behind the hype around Google’s new AI system, Gemini, and a robot chemist sparks row with claim it created new materials.

A candidate for the largest known protein might help killer aquatic bacteria to devour other microbes. Plus, the first-ever global climate deal on food at COP28 and how publishing pressure creates ‘non-stop’ authors.

A breakthrough quantum-computing approach uses single molecules as qubits for the first time. Plus, in vitro embryo models are the method of the year and what’s next for CRISPR after landmark approvals.

Your major organs can age at different rates — and organs that look old before their time are linked to disease risk. Plus, sisal menstrual pads show the power of ‘frugal innovation’ and the first self-amplifying RNA vaccine wins full regulatory approval.

Planet-altering climate ‘tipping points’ are looming — but positive behavioural and economic shifts could result in runaway benefits for the climate. Plus, scientists race to save ancient cave paintings and how the clumsy use of AI is fuelling the reproducibility crisis.

After unveiling a quantum computer with 1,121 qubits, IBM will now focus on smaller, more error-resistant systems. Plus, male mosquitoes once sucked blood and ‘wobbly spacetime’ could reconcile physics’ most incompatible theories.

One year after ChatGPT’s release, researchers reflect on how the chatbot has affected their work. Plus, how it feels to have a robotic octopus arm and image generation has the biggest carbon footprint of all AI tasks.

A prototype biosensor that is worn as a ring can detect tiny amounts of oestradiol in sweat. Plus, colliding black holes ring like bells and dolphins can sense electricity.

COP28 started with the first cash pledged for countries devastated by climate change. Plus, penguins survive on thousands of microsleeps and how to finally end the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Carbon fibres help to create a stable plasma with a uniform temperature. Plus, a soft robotic tentacle inspired by octopuses and materials called perovskites could help solar panels to deliver 20% more power.