Featured
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World View |
How to make data open? Stop overlooking librarians
Digital archivists are already experts at tackling the complex challenges of making research data open and accessible. We can help to smooth the transition.
- Jessica Farrell
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News |
Massive shake-up of French science system is biggest in decades
Billion-euro plan includes greater oversight for national research institutes and the creation of a top-level council to advise the president on science.
- Barbara Casassus
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Correspondence |
Nature-based climate solutions: align policy with science
- Trevor F. Keenan
- , Kimberly A. Novick
- & Caroline P. Normile
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Correspondence |
A system-transitions report for the next IPCC assessment cycle
- Carl-Friedrich Schleussner
- , Christopher Trisos
- & Aditi Mukherji
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Editorial |
Combat corporate greenwashing with better science
Companies must be transparent about how they calculate their emissions goals. Researchers must help to clear up doubts about the system.
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News |
Scientists skip COP28 to demand climate action at home
Concerned about safety at the global climate summit and wanting to make their protests count, researchers stage demonstrations elsewhere.
- Anil Oza
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Comment |
Approaching 1.5 °C: how will we know we’ve reached this crucial warming mark?
Assessing global mean temperature rise using the average warming over the previous one or two decades will delay formal recognition of when Earth breaches the Paris agreement’s 1.5 °C guard rail. Here is what’s needed to avoid the wait.
- Richard A. Betts
- , Stephen E. Belcher
- & Peter A. Stott
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Comment |
ChatGPT one year on: who is using it, how and why?
In just a year, ChatGPT has permeated scientific research. Seven scientists reveal what they have learnt about how the chatbot should — and shouldn’t — be used.
- Marzyeh Ghassemi
- , Abeba Birhane
- & Francisco Tustumi
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Nature Index |
Why is China’s high-quality research footprint becoming more introverted?
Data from the Nature Index suggest China-based authors are increasingly publishing without international colleagues.
- Brian Owens
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Editorial |
Global science is splintering into two — and this is becoming a problem
The United States and China are pursuing parallel scientific tracks. To solve crises on multiple fronts, the two roads need to become one.
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News & Views |
Tackling extreme poverty around the world need not impede climate action
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.
- Katharine L. Ricke
- & Gordon C. McCord
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Editorial |
How the ‘right to science’ can help us overcome the many crises we face today
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights — proclaimed 75 years ago — describes science as fundamental to humanity. Upholding this right has never been more relevant than it is now.
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World View |
China and California are leading the way on climate cooperation. Others should follow
California governor Gavin Newsom’s delegation is building on existing research and policy initiatives with China, showing that effective climate action can happen below the national level.
- Fan Dai
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Comment |
How effective are climate protests at swaying policy — and what could make a difference?
Why people take to the streets to march against global heating is relatively well documented. But it’s unclear why certain tactics work better than others in reaching the public and policymakers.
- Dana R. Fisher
- , Oscar Berglund
- & Colin J. Davis
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Spotlight |
Réunion’s search for energy self-sufficiency
Whether the French island succeeds in producing all of its electricity depends not only on technology, but also on social and political will.
- Rachel Nuwer
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News Explainer |
What the OpenAI drama means for AI progress — and safety
A debacle at the company that built ChatGPT highlights concern that commercial forces are acting against the responsible development of artificial-intelligence systems.
- Nicola Jones
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News |
‘Politicians don’t understand science’: advisers give evidence at UK COVID inquiry
Patrick Vallance, Chris Witty and others reflect on advising the UK government during the ongoing investigation into the country’s pandemic response.
- Katharine Sanderson
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Editorial |
‘Loss and damage’ — the most controversial words in climate finance today
Crucial talks on how richer countries should compensate poorer countries for the effects of climate-related extreme weather are stuck. The COP28 climate summit must make a breakthrough.
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Comment |
Climate loss-and-damage funding: how to get money to where it’s needed fast
Finance for coping with the harms of climate change must be disbursed swiftly and pragmatically. The world’s largest existing climate fund for supporting climate mitigation and adaptation provides lessons.
- Laura Kuhl
- , Istiakh Ahmed
- & Saleemul Huq
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Comment |
Climate loss-and-damage funding: a mechanism to make it work
Compensating for the devastating impacts of heatwaves, hurricanes and floods after they occur is too slow. With climate risks accelerating, the world must predict who needs funds and when.
- Richard H. Clarke
- , Noah J. Wescombe
- & Domenico Lombardi
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News & Views |
Emissions scenarios and targets aligned to meet climate goals
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.
- Chris D. Jones
- & Alexander J. Askew
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Article
| Open AccessAligning climate scenarios to emissions inventories shifts global benchmarks
Aligning the IPCC-assessed mitigation pathways with the national greenhouse gas inventories shows that key global mitigation benchmarks become harder to achieve, requiring achieving earlier net-zero and lower cumulative emissions.
- Matthew J. Gidden
- , Thomas Gasser
- & Keywan Riahi
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Nature Index |
City-based scientists get creative to tackle rural-research needs
Californian projects show how community engagement can break down urban–rural barriers in the United States.
- Virginia Gewin
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Nature Index |
Are rooftop solar panels the answer to meeting China’s challenging climate targets?
Research is central to the success of major photovoltaic programmes in ramping up clean energy and alleviating rural poverty.
- Yvaine Ye
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Editorial |
Swathes of Earth are turning into desert — but the degradation can be stopped
The latest United Nations data paint a grim picture. But countries that are getting land-restoration measures right provide some cause for hope.
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News Feature |
Is it too late to keep global warming below 1.5 °C? The challenge in 7 charts
Chances are rapidly disappearing to limit Earth’s temperature rise to the globally agreed mark, but researchers say there are some positive signs of progress.
- Jeff Tollefson
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News |
Progress on plastic pollution treaty too slow, scientists say
As national divisions widen over how to address the global waste crisis, researchers fight for more input into the process.
- Nicola Jones
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News |
EU allows use of controversial weedkiller glyphosate for 10 more years
In the wake of a stalemate among member states, the European Commission has decided to approve the herbicide’s continued use.
- Barbara Casassus
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News |
The Israel–Hamas conflict: voices from scientists on the front lines
The deadly 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel, and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, have upended lives — including those of researchers throughout the region.
- Nature news team and freelance reporters
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Comment |
Disaster early-warning systems can succeed — but collective action is needed
From floods to wildfires, and tsunamis to volcanic eruptions, early-warning systems can stop natural hazards becoming human disasters. But more joined-up thinking is urgently needed.
- Andrew C. Tupper
- & Carina J. Fearnley
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News |
Major US climate disasters occur every three weeks, report finds
Fifth National Climate Assessment says nowhere is safe from warming, but some communities are impacted harder than others.
- Jeff Tollefson
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Correspondence |
Promise of private finance is blocking peatland restoration
- Lydia Cole
- , Cornelia Helmcke
- & Ewan Jenkins
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Editorial |
How our memories of COVID-19 are biased — and why it matters
Our view of the effectiveness of past pandemic responses is influenced by our present vaccination status. Public inquiries and future research must take this factor into account.
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World View |
The world’s chemical-weapons stockpiles are gone — but a new challenge looms
Continued efforts to maintain the ban on chemical weapons depend on nations sharing information to further build trust and global safety.
- Peter J. Hotchkiss
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News Feature |
Who should pay for open-access publishing? APC alternatives emerge
Article-processing charges levied by publishers on authors have become an integral — and sometimes unpopular — part of the open-access revolution. Other options are being explored.
- Katharine Sanderson
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News Explainer |
Why is Delhi’s air pollution so bad right now?
The post-monsoon season creates ideal conditions for air pollution to accumulate in the Indian megacity.
- Dyani Lewis
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Nature Index |
China must draw on internal research strength
The domestic pool of talent is deep, but international links are still crucial for maintaining the country’s role in the search for global solutions.
- Cong Cao
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Nature Index |
United States and India are becoming science partners of choice
But collaborations are still hampered by bureaucracy and underfunding.
- Natasha Gilbert
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Editorial |
Cutting health and science support should not be an option in Argentina’s election
As the nation chooses its next president, citizens must consider the wider benefits of research investment — long-term prosperity, well-being and growth.
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World View |
Protect the ‘right to science’ for people and the planet
Upholding human rights can ensure that environmental policy is driven by facts and evidence, not denialism, greed and profit.
- Volker Türk
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Comment |
Garbage in, garbage out: mitigating risks and maximizing benefits of AI in research
Artificial-intelligence tools are transforming data-driven science — better ethical standards and more robust data curation are needed to fuel the boom and prevent a bust.
- Brooks Hanson
- , Shelley Stall
- & Ge Peng
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Obituary |
Ian Wilmut, embryologist who helped to produce Dolly the sheep (1944–2023)
Developmental biologist who led team that cloned the first mammal using adult cells.
- Sarah Franklin
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News |
Japanese research is no longer world class — here’s why
Despite a strong workforce, Japan’s research continues to slide down the indicators of quality.
- Anna Ikarashi
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Obituary |
Gordon Conway (1938–2023), leader in sustainable development
Agricultural ecologist who promoted sustainable practices by engaging farmers worldwide.
- Ian Scoones
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World View |
Scientists in diaspora are a powerful resource for their home countries
Networks of émigré researchers can be potent forces for good when they are member-driven, involve youth and connect with each other.
- Rana Dajani
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Comment |
Living guidelines for generative AI — why scientists must oversee its use
Establish an independent scientific body to test and certify generative artificial intelligence, before the technology damages science and public trust.
- Claudi L. Bockting
- , Eva A. M. van Dis
- & Johan Bollen
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News |
How to rebuild trust in science: NIH director nominee fields questions
US senators grilled Monica Bertagnolli during a hearing over her plans for the National Institutes of Health, including how she will repair the agency’s reputation.
- Max Kozlov
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Correspondence |
Agriculture: reform the global food system
- Joern Fischer
- , Elena Bennett
- & Guy Pe’er