Biology

Intent to restructure critical weather science infrastructure

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The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced today that the agency is reviewing the structure of the research and observational capabilities operated by the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). NSF remains committed to providing world-class infrastructure for weather modeling, space weather research and forecasting, and other critical functions. To do so, NSF will … Read more

I’ve earned my PhD — what now?

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Illustration: David Parkins The problem Dear Nature, In December 2024, I finished my PhD in biomedical chemistry in Italy, and I now find myself in that all-too-familiar early-career crisis, struggling to work out what to do next. Research is important to me as a way to contribute meaningfully to a better, healthier world. But I … Read more

Virology’s most wanted: the influenza virus

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Emergency hospital wards were set up during the 1918 flu pandemic.Credit: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE/SPL Of all the pathogens that have plagued humanity, few are as notorious and persistent as influenza. Its Houdini-like ability to regularly slip the shackles of vaccine- or infection-induced immunity, aided by a steady and sustained mutation rate, has … Read more

The hidden cost of video-call glitches

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RESEARCH BRIEFINGS 17 December 2025 Video-call glitches might seem harmless, but they can reduce people’s chances of getting hired, closing a business deal or following a doctor’s recommendation. Human brains expect video calls to feel like in-person conversations. When glitches break that illusion, it feels unsettling and strange, harming judgements of trustworthiness, likeability and credibility.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

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“Another one, Boss,” Spooky haphazardly signed with his tentacles. “Mate, that’s your fifth shot. You sure you’re up for it?” The bartender spoke in a low voice, locking eyes with two of Spooky’s. Such a typical human habit — this compulsive need to make eye contact. It would have been far more practical to focus … Read more

Systematic maps reveal how human chromosomes are organized

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Dekker, J. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09890-3 (2025). Article  Google Scholar  Simonis, M. et al. Nature Genet. 38, 1348–1354 (2006). Article  PubMed  Google Scholar  da Costa-Nunes, J. A. & Noordermeer, D. Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 81, 102622 (2023). Article  PubMed  Google Scholar  Davidson, I. F. & Peters, J.-M. Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 22, 445–464 (2021). … Read more

NSF announces new initiative to launch and scale a new generation of transformative independent research organizations to advance breakthrough science

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The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) on Friday announced the launch of a new initiative designed to launch and scale a new generation of independent research organizations. These organizations will focus on technical challenges and bottlenecks that traditional university and industry labs cannot easily solve on their own. … Read more