Featured
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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
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Editorial |
How to share data — not just equally, but equitably
Just as with many natural resources, wealthy countries have been extracting scientific data from poorer nations for centuries. Researchers are changing that.
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World View |
Science is under threat in Argentina — we must call out the danger
Extreme-right presidential front runner Javier Milei plans to disband ministries and privatize research. That would be disastrous for Argentina’s science and for the nation.
- Victor A. Ramos
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Career Q&A |
I advocate an African research agenda for African development
As Uganda’s science minister, Monica Musenero pushes to connect scientific research to economic development in her country and her continent.
- Christopher Bendana
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Nature Index |
Climate and conservation science persevere in the face of major challenges
But research will need to renew and redouble efforts to provide solutions as the climate emergency deepens.
- Simon Baker
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Nature Index |
Achieving UN climate goals needs purposeful, persistent action from science
To contribute fully to the Sustainable Development Goals, global research must change gear.
- James Mitchell Crow
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Correspondence |
Collateral damage from accelerated drug approval
- Akihiko Ozaki
- , Kenji Gonda
- & Tetsuya Tanimoto
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World View |
Nipah virus is deadly — but smart policy changes can help quell pandemic risk
Repeated outbreaks increase the risk of a Nipah strain emerging that is better at spreading.
- Thekkumkara Surendran Anish
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Career Column |
Dear journals: stop hoarding our papers
Why single-submission policies need to die (and what to do in the meantime).
- Dritjon Gruda
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Nature Podcast |
'This doesn't just fall on women': computer scientists reflect on gender biases in STEM
Two researchers share their experiences and discuss the inequalities that impact women in the computer sciences.
- Nick Petrić Howe
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Obituary |
M. S. Swaminathan (1925–2023), leader of India’s ‘green revolution’
Agricultural scientist who introduced crops to end famine in India in the 1960s.
- Gayathri Vaidyanathan
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News |
US science agencies on track to hit 25-year funding low
Despite last year’s CHIPS and Science Act, which was meant to boost innovation, report predicts that Congress will cut spending on science.
- Jeff Tollefson
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News |
South Korean scientists’ outcry over planned R&D budget cuts
In a nation with historically high levels of spending on research and development, the proposed cuts have provoked a strong response.
- Sara Reardon
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Editorial |
The disinformation sleuths: a key role for scientists in impending elections
Researchers in Europe have a golden opportunity to help defend democratic principles and bring science to bear against online disinformation.
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Research Briefing |
Climate change and habitat loss push amphibians closer to extinction
Amphibians are the most vulnerable vertebrates worldwide, with 41% of species threatened with extinction. Habitat loss is the most common threat, and climate change is the main driver of increased extinction risk. Investment in amphibian conservation must be scaled up drastically and urgently to prevent further extinctions and reverse declines.
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Editorial |
Seize the moment: researchers have a rare opportunity to make progress in protecting global biodiversity
A quiet revolution is taking place to incorporate the costs of biodiversity loss into economic planning. It needs researchers to be engaged.
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World View |
The UK’s rollback of climate policies will cost its citizens and the world
Incoherent new climate-policy messages by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will dissolve the UK’s climate leadership, stifle innovation’s momentum and cost consumers.
- Joeri Rogelj
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Comment |
AI tools as science policy advisers? The potential and the pitfalls
Large language models and other artificial-intelligence systems could be excellent at synthesizing scientific evidence for policymakers — but only with appropriate safeguards and humans in the loop.
- Chris Tyler
- , K. L. Akerlof
- & William J. Sutherland
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Editorial |
Shock delay to net-zero pledges turns UK from climate leader to laggard
It could have shown vision and leadership. Instead, the country that proudly hosted the 2021 COP26 climate summit is ignoring the advice of its own researchers.
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Comment |
‘Benevolent’ patent extensions could raise billions for R&D in poorer countries
Research into vaccines, crop seeds and other innovations for low- or middle-income nations could be rewarded by offering longer patent coverage for profitable, non-essential inventions.
- Christopher B. Barrett
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News Explainer |
The UK’s post-Brexit EU science deal: a graphical guide
Nature explores the United Kingdom and European Union’s research agreements, brokered through seven years of rollercoaster negotiations.
- Nisha Gaind
- , Lilly Tozer
- & Emma Stoye
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News |
World recommits to 2030 plan to save humanity — despite falling short so far
United Nations secretary-general António Guterres proposes US$500-billion annual stimulus package to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Jeff Tollefson
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News |
NIH upholds controversial plan to step up oversight of foreign collaborators
The US biomedical agency tweaked its new policy after an outcry from researchers, but will forge ahead.
- Max Kozlov
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Comment |
What scientists need to do to accelerate progress on the SDGs
Drilling down into why the UN Sustainable Development Goals are so hard to achieve, and showing policymakers pathways to follow, will help the planet and save lives.
- Shirin Malekpour
- , Cameron Allen
- & Kaltham Al-Ghanim
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News Feature |
Do you really know the way the world is heading? Take this quiz on plans to save humanity
The United Nations has ambitious aims to end poverty and clean up the planet by 2030. See whether you know how the world is faring on the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Ehsan Masood
- & Richard Van Noorden
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Correspondence |
SDG 14.5: at last, a breakthrough for the 2030 agenda
- Sarat Babu Gidda
- , Sujata Arora
- & Theresa Lim
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Editorial |
A win for science: UK finally joining Horizon Europe will boost research
The United Kingdom will be part of the world’s largest research funding scheme once more. And it’s not a moment too soon.
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Editorial |
The world’s goals to save humanity are hugely ambitious — but they are still the best option
Not one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals looks set to be achieved by 2030. But deadlines can help focus the mind, and scientists should double down on their work to support the goals.
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Comment |
How science bolstered a key European climate-change case
A group of older women in Switzerland has taken the government to court over its inaction on climate change. Our experience of preparing evidence for the case offers six lessons for researchers.
- Charlotte E. Blattner
- , Ana M. Vicedo-Cabrera
- & Judith Wyttenbach
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Book Review |
Bucking the system: the extraordinary story of how the SDGs came to be
Behind the UN Sustainable Development Goals is a stirring tale of people overcoming huge odds against hostile institutions.
- Ehsan Masood
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News |
Horizon Europe turmoil changed the lives of these five scientists
UK researchers can once again access the €95-billion funding programme — for some, the deal has come too late.
- Miryam Naddaf
- & Lilly Tozer
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News |
Legacy of racist US housing policies extends even to bird data
A discriminatory strategy called redlining, which was implemented in the 1930s, has repercussions today for records of urban biodiversity.
- Anil Oza
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News |
Scientists celebrate as UK rejoins Horizon Europe research programme
UK researchers had been frozen out of the scheme for two years, amid disagreements over Brexit.
- Katharine Sanderson
- & Miryam Naddaf
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News |
Colombia considers ban on most research and education using live animals
A bill and a constitutional amendment that seek to extend the rights of animals could jeopardize ecological studies.
- Amanda Heidt