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Silicon anodes in lithium batteries expand during discharge, causing failure. This expansion has been used constructively in a material whose architecture controllably and reversibly changes to alter its function.
A galaxy has been seen producing strong, regular bursts of X-rays that recur on timescales of hours. The eruptions imply that the matter flowing onto the galaxy’s central black hole undergoes repeated restructuring.
Clocks that are based on the nucleus of a single thorium atom could be more precise than existing timekeepers. Such clocks have not yet been realized, but two experiments provide keys steps towards this goal.
An innovative microfluidic device has enabled the modelling of the events that occur in human embryos when they implant in the wall of the uterus. It could be used to help understand early pregnancy loss.
T-cell receptors orchestrate immune-system responses against infection and cancer. A structure of an entire T-cell receptor complex clarifies its assembly and signalling, and sheds light on its dynamic ligand recognition.
Monarch butterflies’ ability to migrate over long distances is impressive. Evidence that some monarchs reared in captivity have impaired migratory skills compared with wild monarchs has conservation implications.
How cancer cells migrate to a secondary site and become established there is not fully understood. An analysis of mouse and human cancer cells could help settle the debate about the role of the protein E-cadherin in this process.
A long-standing question in seismology is whether small and large earthquakes have similar or different onsets. An analysis of earthquakes around Japan shows that, in some cases, these onsets are almost identical.
A practical method has been devised to synthesize compounds that have previously been almost impossible to make. The combination of fluorine atoms and amide groups in the compounds might be useful in pharmaceuticals.
An analysis shows that information flow between individuals in a social network can be ‘gerrymandered’ to skew perceptions of how others in the community will vote — which can alter the outcomes of elections.
Histone proteins pack DNA into a condensed form called chromatin. Detailed structures of the MLL family of histone-modifying protein complexes have been defined, shedding light on how they operate.
Electronic devices that are based on carbon nanotubes have the potential to be more energy efficient than their silicon counterparts, but have been restricted in functionality. This limitation has now been overcome.
Cancer cells that travel to a distant site can prompt the normal neighbouring cells at that location to create a tumour-promoting microenvironment. A tool that identifies these normal cells offers a way to study this process.
Magnetism alone was thought to be responsible for superconductivity in copper oxides. The finding of superconductivity in a non-magnetic compound that is structurally similar to these copper oxides challenges this view.
A 3.8-million-year-old hominin fossil reveals what the cranium of the oldest known Australopithecus species looked like, casting doubt on assumptions about how these ancient relatives of humans evolved.
Two reports examine how a protein complex that adds transcription-repressing marks to histone proteins is potently inhibited by the protein EZHIP during the maturation of sperm and egg cells and in a type of brain cancer.
Carbon has been stored in the organic layers of boreal-forest soils for hundreds of years. An analysis reveals that this carbon might be released into the atmosphere as global warming increases the frequency of wildfires.
