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Analysis of a massive genomic data set reveals the profound effects that the movement of Bantu-speaking peoples had on Africa’s biological, linguistic and cultural landscape. These findings provide valuable insights for a wide range of disciplines and serve as a comprehensive data set of ancient and modern African individuals for comparative studies.
Scientists are tantalized by the many forms that carbon could adopt — some of which are predicted to have extraordinary properties. The synthesis of three new all-carbon molecules is therefore a source of excitement.
A study has revealed that eliminating extreme poverty would result in a relatively small increase in global greenhouse-gas emissions, dispelling the idea that efforts to combat climate change and poverty are incompatible.
By comparing DNA sequences across hundreds of species of primates and other mammals, an analysis identifies non-coding regulatory elements that are conserved only in primates and that could have important roles in complex traits and diseases in humans.
A series of structures of the eukaryotic protein-synthesis machinery are imaged at high resolution in defined states of the elongation phase of protein synthesis. Analysis suggests that there are underlying molecular mechanisms that increase the accuracy of translation of genetic information in eukaryotes.
There is a long-standing assumption that large, densely populated cities inherently foster interactions between a diverse range of people. Analysis of 1.6 billion person-to-person encounters in the United States reveals that big cities are actually pockets of extreme segregation, highlighting a need for strategic urban design that fosters more integrated environments.
Exposure to the complex mix of pesticides used in agriculture in Europe significantly reduces bumblebees’ health. This suggests that current risk-assessment processes, in which pesticides are assessed separately, are not fit for purpose. Continuous monitoring is needed to quantify the real-world effects of pesticides on pollinator health.
Scientists have long sought to understand what drives biodiversity changes. A study unifies ideas about marine and terrestrial biodiversity in one explanatory framework, pointing to physical geography as dictating life’s trajectory.
A transcription factor in immune cells forms an unexpectedly ladder-like complex with two DNA molecules, allowing the expression of genes that these cells need to suppress harmful immune responses.
Increasingly intense wildfires in the United States could have profound impacts on natural habitats — potentially leaving hundreds of animal species struggling to recover.
In 2008, the first comprehensive sequence of a cancer genome was reported, ushering in a new era of molecular diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic advances informed by an essential framework to understand cancer’s complexities.
A mismatch in how carbon emissions are reported could endanger nations’ best efforts to meet targets for curbing climate change. A method for translating between reporting conventions offers a path forward.
A curious topological structure known as a hopfion ring has been induced in a magnetic material. The first of its kind in 3D, the ring is a tantalizing prospect for several branches of computing development.
The space telescope has helped to determine the atmospheric composition of an exoplanet using the light spectrum of its host star. Spectral changes as the planet orbits the star reveal the long-sought presence of exoplanetary methane.
Genomic data from ancient humans who lived up to 7,400 years ago, sampled from across California and Mexico, unveil patterns of migration that could explain how some Indigenous languages spread in parts of North America.
The time frame of a species’ origins provides context for evolutionary questions. However, dates from fossils are often inconsistent with estimates from genetic data. Emerging evidence points to a new explanation for this discrepancy.
GPS data reveal that people travel far from home to buy food in the United States, challenging ideas about how access to food relates to unhealthy eating habits.
A team of amateur and professional astronomers has determined that a satellite one-third of the size of a tennis court is one of the brightest objects in the sky — with dire consequences for ground-based astronomy.
