A protoplanetary disk (artist’s impression) comprises dust and gas circling a young star. Such disks serve as nurseries for planets. Credit: M. Kornmesser/ESO/SPL
Astronomy and astrophysics
Research Highlights
Selections from the scientific literature by Nature's news team
A glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (blue, illustration) is bound by molecules of an anti-obesity drug (red). A tool predicts molecules that will bind this receptor and another involved in obesity. Credit: Juan Gaertner/SPL
Sea urchins in the genus Diadema (pictured, Diadema setosum) in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean have been dying from a waterborne pathogen. Credit: Getty
Conservation biology
A tiny killer is making an entire region’s sea urchins disintegrate
A replica of ancient Mycenean armor. Credit: A. Flouris et al./PLoS One (CC-BY 4.0)
A gel taken orally dampens the effects of alcohol intoxication, according to animal experiments. Credit: Getty
Nanoscience and technology
How cheesemaking could cook up an antidote for alcohol excess
Analysis of more than 40,000 university application essays found that gradual transitions between chunks of text correlated with higher marks. Credit: Dusan Stankovic/Getty
The blood–brain barrier is comprised of cells lining the blood vessels (artificially coloured) that supply the brain. Credit: Samunella/SPL
Hills blaze in Cameroon. Fires are becoming increasingly frequent in moist tropical forests of West and Central Africa. Credit: Jan Mastnik/Shutterstock
Climate sciences
Africa’s lush tropical forests face a surprising threat: fire
Bonded pairs of green-rumped parrotlets can resort to killing rivals’ chicks. Credit: Alamy
Animal behaviour
These parrots go on killing sprees over real-estate shortages
The light-absorbing rods and cones in the retina (artificially coloured) deteriorate in people with Leber’s congenital amaurosis. Credit: Science Photo Library
Scientists have identified three genes that helped the modern cauliflower to evolve from its broccoli progenitors. Credit: Getty
Electric-vehicle batteries can still be useful, even after retirement. Credit: STR/AFP/Getty
Renewable energy
Old electric-vehicle batteries can find new purpose — on the grid
An exoplanet (artist’s illustration) that’s home to living organisms might not look green. Credit: Mark Garlick/SPL
A droplet of a magnetic fluid responds to a rotating external magnetic field. Credit: X. Zhao et al./Nat. Mater.
Materials science
A magnetic liquid makes for an injectable sensor in living tissue
Smaller declines in well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic were reported by people who were already socially isolated before lockdowns started. Credit: Getty
There are fewer than 100 known specimens of the critically endangered tea-tree fingers fungus, which grows at six sites in Australia. Credit: Alamy
Conservation biology
Not just truffles: dogs can sniff out surpassingly rare native fungus
The fruiting body of Aspergillus niger (artificially coloured), a fungus that can mop up contaminants in tainted soil. Credit: Eye Of Science/SPL
An inventory lists the aviation emissions of all 197 nations that are signatories to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Credit: Getty
The now-extinct salmon species Oncorhynchus rastrosus had ‘tusks’ protruding from its snout (right top and bottom, artist’s illustration; top left, scan of skull with illustration of the originally proposed position of the teeth; bottom left, skull). Credit: K. M. Claeson et al./PLoS One (CC-BY 4.0)
Palaeontology
This giant extinct salmon had tusks like a warthog
Among the genes that cause post-traumatic stress disorder are some that affect brain neurons (pictured, artificially coloured). Credit: Thomas Deerinck, NCMIR/SPL
