Reviews & Analysis

Synthetic biology uses cells as its computing substrate, often based on the genetic circuit concept. In this Perspective, the authors argue that existing synthetic biology approaches based on classical models of computation limit the potential of biocomputing, and propose that living organisms have under-exploited capabilities.

Perception of red and far-red light by photosensory phytochromes regulates plant development and adaptive responses to light. Here, Legris et al. review current models of phytochrome function connecting light-induced conformational changes to physiological outputs and highlight open questions for future research.

The pursuit of topological qubits based on Majorana zero mode within nanowires is highly desired. Here, Zhang et al. summarize the current achievements and discuss the opportunities and challenges of several key next-step experiments.

Parks have a previously unquantified economic value attributable to mental health, a health services value. Here, the authors proposed three methods to estimate this, and applied one of these methods to show that this value is at least US$6 trillion per annum worldwide.

The auditory frequency-following response (FFR) indexes the quality of neural sound encoding in the brain. In this Perspective, the authors discuss the potential of the FFR to provide a better understanding of sound encoding in the auditory system and its relationship to behavior.

Swarms of crustaceans called krill dominate Antarctic ecosystems, yet their influence on biogeochemical cycles remains a mystery. Here Cavan and colleagues review the role of krill in the Southern Ocean, and the impact of the krill fishery on ocean fertilisation and the carbon sink.

Existing approaches to research impact assessment fail to include a range of soft impacts. The authors present a 3-part impact mapping approach and apply it to an environmental initiative. They highlight that support for realising research impact is vital, and call on researchers to be open to new ideas and avenues for creating impact from their work.

The role of Blue Carbon in climate change mitigation and adaptation has now reached international prominence. Here the authors identified the top-ten unresolved questions in the field and find that most questions relate to the precise role blue carbon can play in mitigating climate change and the most effective management actions in maximising this.

The scar formation that occurs following spinal cord injury has properties that are distinct to scars seen in other areas of the CNS, and in other tissues. Here the authors discuss the components of the spinal cord injury scar and how it can have both detrimental and positive roles in relation to recovery.

In pancreatic cancer, the epigenomic landscape can strongly impact the disease phenotype. Here, the authors discuss recent advances in our understanding of pancreatic cancer epigenomics, and how this knowledge can integrate with precision medicine approaches in this lethal disease.

The mechanism by which macromolecular catalysts use energy from exergonic reactions to move, adapt, and assemble has been unclear. In this Perspective article, R. Dean Astumian shows that in addition to disequilibrium of the catalyzed reaction, kinetic asymmetry is the essential feature required to drive non-equilibrium response by an information ratchet mechanism.

Recent gains in artificial neural networks rely heavily on large amounts of training data. Here, the author suggests that for AI to learn from animal brains, it is important to consider that animal behaviour results from brain connectivity specified in the genome through evolution, and not due to unique learning algorithms.

Ice sheets have long been overlooked as regulators of the global carbon cycle. In this Review, Wadham and colleagues show how the growth and retreat of ice sheets support the productivity of the oceans and variably store or release organic carbon–in effect, these frozen landscapes must be considered in future assessments of climate impacts on biogeochemical cycling.

Subseafloor microbial activities are central to global biogeochemical cycles, affecting Earth’s surface oxidation, ocean chemistry, and climate. Here the authors review present understanding of subseafloor microbes and their activities, identify research gaps, and recommend approaches to fill those gaps.

Memristor as the fourth basic element of electric circuits has drawn substantial attention for developing future computing technologies. Sun et al. report the progress and the challenges facing researchers on understanding memristive switching, and advocate continuous studies using a synergistic approach.

Non-traditional antibacterial agents are challenging to develop. In this Perspective, the authors argue that the distinction between traditional and non-traditional agents has only limited relevance for regulatory purposes, although products with non-traditional goals focused on population-level benefits might benefit from extension of current paradigms.

No effective therapies exist for dry age-related macular degeneration. In this perspective, the authors propose that research should emphasize system biology approaches that integrate various ‘omics’ data into mathematical models to establish pathogenic mechanisms on which to design novel treatments, and identify biomarkers that predict disease progression and therapeutic response.

Glycomics is gaining momentum in basic, translational and clinical research. Here, the authors review current reporting standards and analysis tools for mass-spectrometry-based glycomics, and propose an e-infrastructure for standardized reporting and online deposition of glycomics data.

While natural gas and fossil fuels power human activities, increasing concerns over fuel reserves and environmental impacts require finding alternative, renewable resources. Here, authors review the fundamental science and progress on solar-powered conversion of carbon dioxide to methane.

Lack of best practice guidelines currently limits the application of metabolomics in the regulatory sciences. Here, the MEtabolomics standaRds Initiative in Toxicology (MERIT) proposes methods and reporting standards for several important applications of metabolomics in regulatory toxicology.