The preparation of C − N axially chiral compounds, a class of privileged scaffolds in pharmaceuticals, advanced materials and organic synthesis, has recently attracted significant interest. Herein the authors report a chiral dinitrogen ligand promoted asymmetric Catellani reaction for the synthesis of C–N axially chiral scaffolds.

The realization of intrinsically stretchable organic photovoltaics with excellent mechanical robustness remains challenging. Here, the authors redistribute the strain in the active layer to PEDOT:PSS electrodes with simultaneously enhanced stretchability and interfacial adhesion in the device.

Excitation energy transfer is important for many photoinduced biological processes in systems with multiple chromophores. Here, the authors elucidate this process for the coenzyme NADH using ultrafast spectroscopy and quantum dynamics.

While synthetic active matter research has concentrated on developing point-like, interacting entities, designing freely jointed active assemblies from autonomously powered components has remained a challenge. Here, the authors introduce freely jointed active polymers created from self-propelled droplets, uncovering emergent rigidity and propulsion, thereby advancing towards self-morphic synthetic materials.

Here, the authors develop a microfabrication method to realize the optical observation of quantum coherence and interference of a single moiré exciton in twisted semiconducting heterobilayers of transition metal dichalcogenides, persisting beyond 10 ps.

Limited data hinders accurate predictions of strength and permeability of permeable cement-stabilized base materials. Here, the authors propose a kriging-based surrogate model assisted neural networks, which improves accuracy by 21% over traditional models.

Here, authors highlight ecological risks of a widely used disinfectant, chloroxylenol, and identify a more efficient and safer alternative from halo-phenolic disinfection byproducts, 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone. They leverage seawater’s slightly alkaline nature to enhance its degradability via hydrolysis.

This study explores alternative stable states in microbial communities. Focusing on a respiratory tract community of 6 species, the authors identified four distinct stable states that are predicted to be driven by cooperative growth. The findings contrast with the common association between competitive interactions and multistability in microbial communities. Using a sample of a thousand eddies across the world’s oceans, this study examines the response of forage fauna detected by shipboard acoustics. The findings show that a minority of eddies exhibit significant effects on forage fauna, but that an oasis effect can sometimes occur. This highlights the need for further research to elucidate how eddies might attract marine predators.

The time-dependent effects of cement production emissions and CO₂ uptake through carbonation of hydrated cement at a global scale were quantified. The results show the climate benefits of the CO₂ uptake by cement are being significantly over-estimated.

Low-density microplastics with a size range of 10−200 µm may gain sufficient ballast via microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation and sink independently to the ocean floor due to small drag, explaining their enrichment in oceanic sediment.

To identify intracellular dynamics at the single-cell level, authors develop a scalable method via a divide-and-conquer strategy and apply it to a yeast transcription system. The results underscore the heterogeneity in isogenic cells, which is validated by a noise-decomposition method.

Biological computing is a promising field with potential applications in biosafety, environmental monitoring, and personalized medicine. Here the authors create bio-computers using engineered E. coli colonies that respond to chemical gradients, producing different logic functions depending on how they are spatially arranged.

The Legionella collagen-like protein (Lcl) is important for host adhesion in Legionella pneumophila. Here, the authors provide structural and biochemical data, which provides insights into a distinct “fuzzy” glycosaminoglycan binding mechanism.

Recently, studies have identified different low-density lipoprotein receptors as functional entry receptors for alphaviruses. In this Perspective, the authors compare the known alphavirus-receptor structures and discuss why it might be challenging to generate a broad-spectrum entry inhibitor.

By performing a tissue-specific transcriptome analysis, Zhang et al. show how age-related loss of germline stem/progenitor cells in C. elegans is regulated by a signal produced by non-niche cells within the same organ system.

Tobacco smoking is an important risk factor for lung cancer. Here the authors report that tobacco carcinogens promote metabolic syndrome and metabolic reprogramming of macrophages, associated with lung cancer progression in preclinical models.

Superoxide dismutase 3 is elevated in patients and animals infected by protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium. Here, Li et al. show that SOD3 expression is associated with experimental cerebral malaria and inhibition of host immune responses.

RH5, which is part of the trimeric RCR-complex essential for invasion, is a vaccine candidate for malaria. Here, Williams et al. show that monoclonal antibodies targeting each of the three proteins in the RCR-complex can work together to more effectively block the invasion of red blood cells by Plasmodium falciparum and design a combination vaccine candidate.

The overexpression of Esyt1 presynaptic organiser in V1 spinal interneurons restores connectivity, increases motor neuron survival, and ameliorates motor phenotypes in ALS mice. So, inhibitory interneurons are a target to attenuate ALS symptoms.

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death among adults worldwide, however current risk stratification methods lack the ability to incorporate new information throughout the life-course or to combine innate genetic risk factors with acquired lifetime risk. Here the authors introduce a multistate model to address these limitations.

Informal transportation services constitute the primary form of public transport in the Global South. Here, the authors analyze the structure of route networks in cities across the globe, showing how informal routes self-organize into consistent line services that often outperform centralized services in the Global North, exhibiting fewer detours and comparable interconnectivity.

The absence of an objective way of assessing freezing of gait in Parkinson’s Disease hinders research and care. A machine-learning contest using wearable sensor data delivered detection algorithms with high precision and identified time-of-day effects.

Educational environment is known to influence learning efficiency of students, however qualitative analysis of this effect has open questions. The authors propose a model to quantify roommate peer effects based on student accommodation distribution and their academic performance.

Exposition to insecticides can be dangerous. Here, authors developed an oxime-fabric body suit and facemask that chemically deactivate insecticides and prevent insecticide-induced lethal effects, offering an affordable solution for farmer safety.

Smart grids are characterized by fast-acting, intelligent control while reconfiguration and load shedding are emergency control techniques needed during outages. Here, authors present a graph reinforcement learning approach to manage outage and notably improve resilience in distribution networks.