ALBERT

Description: Robotics: A robot that flies like a bat Nature 542, 7640 (2017). doi:10.1038/542140a With articulated wings covered in a stretchy silicone, a 93-gram autonomous robot can mimic several of the complex aerial manoeuvres of bats.Bat wings contain more than 40 joints that allow for a variety of intricate moves through the air. Earlier bat-inspired robots have been

Description: Astronomy: A leisurely way to visit the stars Nature 542, 7640 (2017). doi:10.1038/542140c Plans to explore the nearest star system rely on light sails — reflective panels that are propelled by light. These craft travel so fast that they will have little time to explore their destination, but altering the way the sails are used could help.An

Description: The long reach of the monster plant Nature 542, 7640 (2017). doi:10.1038/542138b Carnivorous plants have fascinated writers and botanists alike.

Description: The head of Britain’s powerful new funding body deserves a chance Nature 542, 7640 (2017). doi:10.1038/542138a Mark Walport has the experience needed to take on the top job in UK science.

Description: US child-health study rises from ashes of high-profile failure Nature 542, 7640 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature.2017.21367 Author: Rachel Cernansky The government’s cancelled National Children’s Study has a successor that may sidestep earlier challenges.

Description: Show of shipwrecked treasures raises scientists’ ire Nature 542, 7640 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature.2017.21429 Author: Traci Watson Archaeologists worry that a museum exhibition will encourage exploitation of priceless historical sites.

Description: LIGO’s underdog cousin ready to enhance gravitational-wave hunt Nature 542, 7640 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/542146a Author: Davide Castelvecchi It missed the historic discovery, but the Virgo lab in Italy is now primed to extend LIGO’s reach and precision.

Description: Secrets of life in a spoonful of blood Nature 542, 7640 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/542156a Author: Claire Ainsworth The intricate development of the fetus is yielding its long-held secrets to state-of-the-art molecular technologies that can make use of the mother's blood.

Description: Catch wave power in floating nets Nature 542, 7640 (2017). doi:10.1038/542159a Author: Zhong Lin Wang Zhong Lin Wang proposes a radically different way to harvest renewable energy from the ocean using nanogenerator networks.

Description: Sustainability: Growing pains Nature 542, 7640 (2017). doi:10.1038/542162a Author: Richard B. Norgaard Richard B. Norgaard is troubled by the incrementalism of Jeffrey Sachs's modest new plan for the US economy.

Description: Physics: A cosmos in the lab Nature 542, 7640 (2017). doi:10.1038/542164a Author: Andreas Albrecht Andreas Albrecht ponders a study of the physicists who grapple with the origins of the Universe.

Description: The Turkish paradox: Can scientists thrive in a state of emergency? Nature 542, 7641 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/542286a Author: Alison Abbott Political upheaval threatens Turkey’s ambitious plans for research and development.

Description: Heavyweight funders back central site for life-sciences preprints Nature 542, 7641 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature.2017.21466 Author: Ewen Callaway Coalition of scientists and research agencies argue for a one-stop shop server.

Description: Winston Churchill’s essay on alien life found Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542289a Author: Mario Livio A newly unearthed article by the great politician reveals that he reasoned like a scientist about the likelihood of extraterrestrials, writes Mario Livio.

Description: Ecology: Toxic build-up in deep-sea life Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542274d High levels of industrial pollution have been found in animals living in the deepest reaches of the Pacific Ocean.The production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) — toxic, non-biodegradable pollutants — was phased out in the 1970s. Alan Jamieson, now at

Description: Physics: Six decades of science advising Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542292a Author: Ann Finkbeiner Ann Finkbeiner scrutinizes a biography of supremely inventive particle physicist Richard Garwin.

Description: Books in brief Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542293a Author: Barbara Kiser Barbara Kiser reviews five of the week's best science picks.

Description: Human gene editing, a letter to President Trump and a no to homeopathy Nature 542, 7641 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/542276a The week in science: 10–16 February 2017.

Description: Corporate culture: research can benefit Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542295d Authors: Rudi G. J. Westendorp & Ulla Wewer We disagree that a 'creeping corporate culture' is harming the University of Copenhagen (Nature540, 315;10.1038/540315a2016). Its continuous rise in the international rankings argues against this suggestion. If the art of science is indeed under corporate pressure, we should

Description: Corporate culture: threat to researchers Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542295c Authors: Gang Liu & Juan Tan Early-stage researchers in Denmark are particularly vulnerable to the 'creeping corporate culture' of universities (Nature540, 315;10.1038/540315a2016). Managers are tightening spending after government budget cuts last year ended individual postdoctoral grants from the Danish Council for Independent Research.Furthermore,

Description: Trump: a confluence of tipping points? Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542295b Author: Robert Costanza Dramatic change can suddenly happen when there is a confluence of factors reaching a 'tipping point' — the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is an example. As climate change and societal change both move towards tipping points, the crisis prompted by the election

Description: United States: Restore public files on animal welfare Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542295a Author: Delcianna J. Winders The US Department of Agriculture's sudden removal of thousands of public records relating to animal welfare, supposedly based on a “commitment to being transparent” (see go.nature.com/2ktvzhp), undermines the very purposes of the Animal Welfare Act (see Naturedoi.org/bzg3; 2017). If the department

Description: George Klein (1925–2016) Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542296a Authors: Ingemar Ernberg, Klas Kärre & Hans Wigzell A pioneering cancer biologist and Renaissance man.

Description: In cygnus and in hell Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542386a Author: S. R. Algernon A ticket to ride.

Description: Correction Nature 542, 7641 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/542291a In the graphic in the Comment 'Journals invite too few women to referee' ( J.Lerback & B.HansonNature541, 455–457; 2017 ), the bar representing the acceptance rate for male first authors in their 70s was mislabelled.

Description: Culture: Cultivate the muse Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nj7641-381a Author: Susan Moran Creative writing can enrich scientists' research.

Description: Physiology: An atypical switch for metabolism and ageing Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21500 Authors: Colin Selman & Dominic J. Withers The enzyme S6K1 phosphorylates the enzyme glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase to modulate metabolic activity and lifespan, revealing an atypical role for this synthetase as a target of a key metabolic signalling pathway. See Letter p.357

Description: Trade talk: Support system Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nj7641-383a Author: Jack Leeming A way to help.

Description: Brazil: Biodiversity at risk from austerity law Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542295e Author: André Lincoln Barroso Magalhães In December 2016, Brazil's government amended its constitution to freeze public spending on biodiversity protection for the next 20 years, along with funding for scientific research, education and health care. As conservation scientists in Brazil, we believe that the country's remarkable biodiversity is an important

Description: Genomics: Keen insights from quinoa Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21495 Authors: Andrew H. Paterson & Alan L. Kolata Technological advances have allowed scientists to sequence the complex quinoa genome. This highlights the ongoing expansion of genomics beyond major crops to other plants that have relevance for global food security. See Article p.307

Description: Environmental science: Oceans lose oxygen Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542303a Authors: Denis Gilbert Oxygen is essential to most life in the ocean. An analysis shows that oxygen levels have declined by 2% in the global ocean over the past five decades, probably causing habitat loss for many fish and invertebrate species. See Letter p.335

Description: Palaeoclimate science: Pulsating ice sheet Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/542298a Authors: Andreas Vieli During the last ice age, huge numbers of icebergs were episodically discharged from an ice sheet that covered North America. Numerical modelling suggests that these events resulted from a conceptually simple feedback cycle. See Letter p.332

Description: The genome of Chenopodium quinoa Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21370 Authors: David E. Jarvis, Yung Shwen Ho, Damien J. Lightfoot, Sandra M. Schmöckel, Bo Li, Theo J. A. Borm, Hajime Ohyanagi, Katsuhiko Mineta, Craig T. Michell, Noha Saber, Najeh M. Kharbatia, Ryan R. Rupper, Aaron R. Sharp, Nadine Dally, Berin A. Boughton, Yong H. Woo, Ge Gao, Elio G. W. M. Schijlen, Xiujie Guo, Afaque A. Momin, Sónia Negrão, Salim Al-Babili, Christoph Gehring, Ute Roessner, Christian Jung, Kevin Murphy, Stefan T. Arold, Takashi Gojobori, C. Gerard van der Linden, Eibertus N. van Loo, Eric N. Jellen, Peter J. Maughan & Mark Tester Chenopodium quinoa (quinoa) is a highly nutritious grain identified as an important crop to improve world food security. Unfortunately, few resources are available to facilitate its genetic improvement. Here we report the assembly of a high-quality, chromosome-scale reference genome sequence for quinoa, which was

Description: Correction Nature 542, 7641 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/542285a The Editorial ‘Keep science on track’ (Nature542, 137; 2017) wrongly attributed to Till Sawala and then to Nadine El-Enany the opinion that the proposed boycott of US-based conferences is intended to demonstrate against a ban that hurts everyone. The article also

Description: Cryo-EM structure of a human spliceosome activated for step 2 of splicing Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21079 Authors: Karl Bertram, Dmitry E. Agafonov, Wen-Ti Liu, Olexandr Dybkov, Cindy L. Will, Klaus Hartmuth, Henning Urlaub, Berthold Kastner, Holger Stark & Reinhard Lührmann Spliceosome rearrangements facilitated by RNA helicase PRP16 before catalytic step two of splicing are poorly understood. Here we report a 3D cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human spliceosomal C complex stalled directly after PRP16 action (C*). The architecture of the catalytic U2–U6 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) core

Description: Physiology: Gut feeling for food choice Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21499 Authors: Darleen A. Sandoval & Randy J. Seeley One effect of weight-loss surgery is a change in food preferences. An analysis in rats shows that this is caused by altered nutrient signals in the intestine. These activate the vagus nerve to increase signalling in the brain by the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Description: Early brain development in infants at high risk for autism spectrum disorder Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21369 Authors: Heather Cody Hazlett, Hongbin Gu, Brent C. Munsell, Sun Hyung Kim, Martin Styner, Jason J. Wolff, Jed T. Elison, Meghan R. Swanson, Hongtu Zhu, Kelly N. Botteron, D. Louis Collins, John N. Constantino, Stephen R. Dager, Annette M. Estes, Alan C. Evans, Vladimir S. Fonov, Guido Gerig, Penelope Kostopoulos, Robert C. McKinstry, Juhi Pandey, Sarah Paterson, John R. Pruett, Robert T. Schultz, Dennis W. Shaw, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum & Joseph Piven Brain enlargement has been observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the timing of this phenomenon, and the relationship between ASD and the appearance of behavioural symptoms, are unknown. Retrospective head circumference and longitudinal brain volume studies of two-year olds followed up at four years of age have provided evidence that increased brain volume may emerge early in development. Studies of infants at high familial risk of autism can provide insight into the early development of autism and have shown that characteristic social deficits in ASD emerge during the latter part of the first and in the second year of life. These observations suggest that prospective brain-imaging studies of infants at high familial risk of ASD might identify early postnatal changes in brain volume that occur before an ASD diagnosis. In this prospective neuroimaging study of 106 infants at high familial risk of ASD and 42 low-risk infants, we show that hyperexpansion of the cortical surface area between 6 and 12 months of age precedes brain volume overgrowth observed between 12 and 24 months in 15 high-risk infants who were diagnosed with autism at 24 months. Brain volume overgrowth was linked to the emergence and severity of autistic social deficits. A deep-learning algorithm that primarily uses surface area information from magnetic resonance imaging of the brain of 6–12-month-old individuals predicted the diagnosis of autism in individual high-risk children at 24 months (with a positive predictive value of 81% and a sensitivity of 88%). These findings demonstrate that early brain changes occur during the period in which autistic behaviours are first emerging.

Description: MFN1 structures reveal nucleotide-triggered dimerization critical for mitochondrial fusion Nature 542, 7641 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21077 Authors: Yu-Lu Cao, Shuxia Meng, Yang Chen, Jian-Xiong Feng, Dong-Dong Gu, Bing Yu, Yu-Jie Li, Jin-Yu Yang, Shuang Liao, David C. Chan & Song Gao Mitochondria are double-membraned organelles with variable shapes influenced by metabolic conditions, developmental stage, and environmental stimuli. Their dynamic morphology is a result of regulated and balanced fusion and fission processes. Fusion is crucial for the health and physiological functions of mitochondria, including complementation of damaged mitochondrial DNAs and the maintenance of membrane potential. Mitofusins are dynamin-related GTPases that are essential for mitochondrial fusion. They are embedded in the mitochondrial outer membrane and thought to fuse adjacent mitochondria via combined oligomerization and GTP hydrolysis. However, the molecular mechanisms of this process remain unknown. Here we present crystal structures of engineered human MFN1 containing the GTPase domain and a helical domain during different stages of GTP hydrolysis. The helical domain is composed of elements from widely dispersed sequence regions of MFN1 and resembles the ‘neck’ of the bacterial dynamin-like protein. The structures reveal unique features of its catalytic machinery and explain how GTP binding induces conformational changes to promote GTPase domain dimerization in the transition state. Disruption of GTPase domain dimerization abolishes the fusogenic activity of MFN1. Moreover, a conserved aspartate residue trigger was found to affect mitochondrial elongation in MFN1, probably through a GTP-loading-dependent domain rearrangement. Thus, we propose a mechanistic model for MFN1-mediated mitochondrial tethering, and our results shed light on the molecular basis of mitochondrial fusion and mitofusin-related human neuromuscular disorders.

Description: Delay in hiring science advisers intensifies Brexit worries Nature 542, 7642 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature.2017.21511 Author: Daniel Cressey Policy experts want scientists at the table when government decides on environmental protection and membership of international collaborations.

Description: Collapse of Aztec society linked to catastrophic salmonella outbreak Nature 542, 7642 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature.2017.21485 Author: Ewen Callaway DNA of 500-year-old bacteria is first direct evidence of an epidemic — one of humanity's deadliest — that occurred after Spanish conquest.

Description: Water supply: The emptying well Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542412a Author: Margaret Catley-Carlson Margaret Catley-Carlson plunges into a study of a dwindling resource — groundwater.

Description: Books in brief Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542413a Author: Barbara Kiser Barbara Kiser reviews five of the week's best science picks.

Description: Population statistics: Does child survival limit family size? Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542414a Authors: Malcolm Potts, Alisha Graves & Duff Gillespie Hans Rosling (1948–2017), physician and epidemiologist, famously upturned assumptions widely held by the public and by the development community — assumptions that, thanks to US President Donald Trump, are back in the spotlight. A recurring theme of Rosling's was that family sizes have been shrinking

Description: Viruses: Model to accelerate epidemic responses Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542414b Author: John W. McCauley On behalf of the Scientific Advisory Council of the influenza data-sharing initiative GISAID (www.gisaid.org), I suggest that the principles of this long-standing and successful programme could be extended to help speed on-the-ground responses to other emergent viral threats.GISAID operates under a unique

Description: Community support: Locals embrace China nuclear project Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542414c Authors: Hong Yang, Junqiang Xia & Roger J. Flower Public support for China's nuclear-energy programme plummeted after Japan's Fukushima disaster in 2011. So far, however, there have been no reported protests against a proposed nuclear power plant in Zhangzhou in southeast China. Other nations could learn from the strategy used by the authorities to

Description: Peer review: Award bonus points to motivate reviewers Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542414d Author: David Gurwitz The proliferation of scientific journals is making it harder for editors to recruit peer reviewers. Various incentives (see, for example, Nature514, 274;10.1038/514274a2014) have not substantially changed an archaic system. I propose a smart solution that would benefit reviewers, authors

Description: Stephen E. Fienberg (1942–2016) Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542415a Author: Robin Mejia Statistician who campaigned for better science in court.

Description: Employment: Male majority Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nj7642-509b Men outnumber women in most US science sectors.

Description: The terminator Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542512a Author: Laurence Suhner Dreams of another world.

Description: Energy scientists must show their workings Nature 542, 7642 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/542393a Author: Stefan Pfenninger Public trust demands greater openness from those whose research is used to set policy, argues Stefan Pfenninger.

Description: Systems neuroscience: Diversity in sight Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21498 Authors: Richard H. Masland A systematic analysis of bipolar cells, which act as a central signalling conduit in the retina, reveals that the neurons' diverse responses to light are generated largely by feedback from neighbouring amacrine cells. See Article p.439

Description: Imaging: 3D-printed camera sees like an eagle Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542395c A tiny camera made of four different lenses 3D-printed on a chip can generate images with high resolution in the centre — similarly to the way the eyes of eagles and humans work.Simon Thiele and his colleagues at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, printed

Description: Climate science: Predictable ice ages on a chaotic planet Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542419a Authors: Didier Paillard Statistical analysis has revealed a simple rule for the occurrence of warm periods during the Quaternary, whereas on much longer timescales geological data have confirmed that the Solar System is chaotic. See Article p.427& Letter p.468

Description: Gene editing in legal limbo in Europe Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/542392a The European Union is dragging its feet on gene-editing rules and scientists should push the issue.

Description: Prevalence and architecture of de novo mutations in developmental disorders Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21062 Authors: The genomes of individuals with severe, undiagnosed developmental disorders are enriched in damaging de novo mutations (DNMs) in developmentally important genes. Here we have sequenced the exomes of 4,293 families containing individuals with developmental disorders, and meta-analysed these data with data from another 3,287

Description: Seven temperate terrestrial planets around the nearby ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21360 Authors: Michaël Gillon, Amaury H. M. J. Triaud, Brice-Olivier Demory, Emmanuël Jehin, Eric Agol, Katherine M. Deck, Susan M. Lederer, Julien de Wit, Artem Burdanov, James G. Ingalls, Emeline Bolmont, Jeremy Leconte, Sean N. Raymond, Franck Selsis, Martin Turbet, Khalid Barkaoui, Adam Burgasser, Matthew R. Burleigh, Sean J. Carey, Aleksander Chaushev, Chris M. Copperwheat, Laetitia Delrez, Catarina S. Fernandes, Daniel L. Holdsworth, Enrico J. Kotze, Valérie Van Grootel, Yaseen Almleaky, Zouhair Benkhaldoun, Pierre Magain & Didier Queloz One aim of modern astronomy is to detect temperate, Earth-like exoplanets that are well suited for atmospheric characterization. Recently, three Earth-sized planets were detected that transit (that is, pass in front of) a star with a mass just eight per cent that of the Sun, located 12 parsecs away. The transiting configuration of these planets, combined with the Jupiter-like size of their host star—named TRAPPIST-1—makes possible in-depth studies of their atmospheric properties with present-day and future astronomical facilities. Here we report the results of a photometric monitoring campaign of that star from the ground and space. Our observations reveal that at least seven planets with sizes and masses similar to those of Earth revolve around TRAPPIST-1. The six inner planets form a near-resonant chain, such that their orbital periods (1.51, 2.42, 4.04, 6.06, 9.1 and 12.35 days) are near-ratios of small integers. This architecture suggests that the planets formed farther from the star and migrated inwards. Moreover, the seven planets have equilibrium temperatures low enough to make possible the presence of liquid water on their surfaces.

Description: A simple rule to determine which insolation cycles lead to interglacials Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21364 Authors: P. C. Tzedakis, M. Crucifix, T. Mitsui & E. W. Wolff The pacing of glacial–interglacial cycles during the Quaternary period (the past 2.6 million years) is attributed to astronomically driven changes in high-latitude insolation. However, it has not been clear how astronomical forcing translates into the observed sequence of interglacials. Here we show that before one

Description: Adipose-derived circulating miRNAs regulate gene expression in other tissues Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21365 Authors: Thomas Thomou, Marcelo A. Mori, Jonathan M. Dreyfuss, Masahiro Konishi, Masaji Sakaguchi, Christian Wolfrum, Tata Nageswara Rao, Jonathon N. Winnay, Ruben Garcia-Martin, Steven K. Grinspoon, Phillip Gorden & C. Ronald Kahn Adipose tissue is a major site of energy storage and has a role in the regulation of metabolism through the release of adipokines. Here we show that mice with an adipose-tissue-specific knockout of the microRNA (miRNA)-processing enzyme Dicer (ADicerKO), as well as humans with lipodystrophy,

Description: Metabolic gatekeeper function of B-lymphoid transcription factors Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21076 Authors: Lai N. Chan, Zhengshan Chen, Daniel Braas, Jae-Woong Lee, Gang Xiao, Huimin Geng, Kadriye Nehir Cosgun, Christian Hurtz, Seyedmehdi Shojaee, Valeria Cazzaniga, Hilde Schjerven, Thomas Ernst, Andreas Hochhaus, Steven M. Kornblau, Marina Konopleva, Miles A. Pufall, Giovanni Cazzaniga, Grace J. Liu, Thomas A. Milne, H. Phillip Koeffler, Theodora S. Ross, Isidro Sánchez-García, Arndt Borkhardt, Keith R. Yamamoto, Ross A. Dickins, Thomas G. Graeber & Markus Müschen B-lymphoid transcription factors, such as PAX5 and IKZF1, are critical for early B-cell development, yet lesions of the genes encoding these transcription factors occur in over 80% of cases of pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The importance of these lesions in ALL has, until now, remained unclear. Here, by combining studies using chromatin immunoprecipitation with sequencing and RNA sequencing, we identify a novel B-lymphoid program for transcriptional repression of glucose and energy supply. Our metabolic analyses revealed that PAX5 and IKZF1 enforce a state of chronic energy deprivation, resulting in constitutive activation of the energy-stress sensor AMPK. Dominant-negative mutants of PAX5 and IKZF1, however, relieved this glucose and energy restriction. In a transgenic pre-B ALL mouse model, the heterozygous deletion of Pax5 increased glucose uptake and ATP levels by more than 25-fold. Reconstitution of PAX5 and IKZF1 in samples from patients with pre-B ALL restored a non-permissive state and induced energy crisis and cell death. A CRISPR/Cas9-based screen of PAX5 and IKZF1 transcriptional targets identified the products of NR3C1 (encoding the glucocorticoid receptor), TXNIP (encoding a glucose-feedback sensor) and CNR2 (encoding a cannabinoid receptor) as central effectors of B-lymphoid restriction of glucose and energy supply. Notably, transport-independent lipophilic methyl-conjugates of pyruvate and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites bypassed the gatekeeper function of PAX5 and IKZF1 and readily enabled leukaemic transformation. Conversely, pharmacological TXNIP and CNR2 agonists and a small-molecule AMPK inhibitor strongly synergized with glucocorticoids, identifying TXNIP, CNR2 and AMPK as potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, our results provide a mechanistic explanation for the empirical finding that glucocorticoids are effective in the treatment of B-lymphoid but not myeloid malignancies. Thus, B-lymphoid transcription factors function as metabolic gatekeepers by limiting the amount of cellular ATP to levels that are insufficient for malignant transformation.

Description: Static non-reciprocity in mechanical metamaterials Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21044 Authors: Corentin Coulais, Dimitrios Sounas & Andrea Alù Reciprocity is a general, fundamental principle governing various physical systems, which ensures that the transfer function—the transmission of a physical quantity, say light intensity—between any two points in space is identical, regardless of geometrical or material asymmetries. Breaking this transmission symmetry offers enhanced control over signal transport, isolation and source protection. So far, devices that break reciprocity (and therefore show non-reciprocity) have been mostly considered in dynamic systems involving electromagnetic, acoustic and mechanical wave propagation associated with fields varying in space and time. Here we show that it is possible to break reciprocity in static systems, realizing mechanical metamaterials that exhibit vastly different output displacements under excitation from different sides, as well as one-way displacement amplification. This is achieved by combining large nonlinearities with suitable geometrical asymmetries and/or topological features. In addition to extending non-reciprocity and isolation to statics, our work sheds light on energy propagation in nonlinear materials with asymmetric crystalline structures and topological properties. We anticipate that breaking reciprocity will open avenues for energy absorption, conversion and harvesting, soft robotics, prosthetics and optomechanics.

Description: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase δ blockade increases genomic instability in B cells Nature 542, 7642 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21406 Authors: Mara Compagno, Qi Wang, Chiara Pighi, Taek-Chin Cheong, Fei-Long Meng, Teresa Poggio, Leng-Siew Yeap, Elif Karaca, Rafael B. Blasco, Fernanda Langellotto, Chiara Ambrogio, Claudia Voena, Adrian Wiestner, Siddha N. Kasar, Jennifer R. Brown, Jing Sun, Catherine J. Wu, Monica Gostissa, Frederick W. Alt & Roberto Chiarle Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is a B-cell-specific enzyme that targets immunoglobulin genes to initiate class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. In addition, through off-target activity, AID has a much broader effect on genomic instability by initiating oncogenic chromosomal translocations and mutations involved in the development and progression of lymphoma. AID expression is tightly regulated in B cells and its overexpression leads to enhanced genomic instability and lymphoma formation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ) pathway regulates AID by suppressing its expression in B cells. Drugs for leukaemia or lymphoma therapy such as idelalisib, duvelisib and ibrutinib block PI3Kδ activity directly or indirectly, potentially affecting AID expression and, consequently, genomic stability in B cells. Here we show that treatment of primary mouse B cells with idelalisib or duvelisib, and to a lesser extent ibrutinib, enhanced the expression of AID and increased somatic hypermutation and chromosomal translocation frequency to the Igh locus and to several AID off-target sites. Both of these effects were completely abrogated in AID-deficient B cells. PI3Kδ inhibitors or ibrutinib increased the formation of AID-dependent tumours in pristane-treated mice. Consistently, PI3Kδ inhibitors enhanced AID expression and translocation frequency to IGH and AID off-target sites in human chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and mantle cell lymphoma cell lines, and patients treated with idelalisib, but not ibrutinib, showed increased somatic hypermutation in AID off-targets. In summary, we show that PI3Kδ or Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors increase genomic instability in normal and neoplastic B cells by an AID-dependent mechanism. This effect should be carefully considered, as such inhibitors can be administered to patients for years.

Description: Astrophysics: Supernova clues from neutrinos Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543008b Neutrinos detected by Earth-based observatories could one day help to reveal the sequence of events that occur in supernovae.When a white-dwarf star becomes too massive to support itself, the internal pressure is thought to trigger a runaway thermonuclear reaction followed by an explosion —

Description: Microbiome: Skin cream kills pathogen Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543008d A lotion containing specific bacteria kills a pathogen associated with an inflammatory skin disorder.Atopic dermatitis causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin, and is often marked by high levels of the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Other bacteria that normally live harmlessly on the skin

Description: Evolution: How humans adapt to arsenic Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543009b People living in Chile's Atacama Desert have different versions of a gene that allow them to cope with the region's naturally high levels of arsenic.Arsenic from rocks seeps into the desert's scarce water sources, exposing people in the Camarones Valley to levels 100 times

Description: Ecology: Alien species on the rise Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543009e The number of new instances of non-native species documented is increasing around the globe — growth that shows no sign of slowing.The introduction of alien species can disrupt ecosystems and even cause local extinctions. Hanno Seebens at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre

Description: Energy: Scanning the energy horizon Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543037a Author: Michael Grubb Michael Grubb finds more breadth than depth in Dieter Helm's study on oil's demise.

Description: Gender bias: track revisions and appeals Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543040a Author: Julie Overbaugh I suggest that journals should collect data at each stage of the peer-review process to help identify the barriers to publication that women face (see also J.Lerback and B.HansonNature541, 455–457;10.1038/541455a2017). Author gender

Description: Preclinical data: Three-point plan for reproducibility Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543040d Authors: E. Andrew Balas & Lee M. Ellis The success of clinical studies depends on the reproducibility of preclinical research results (see J.Kimmelman and C.FedericoNature542, 25–27;10.1038/542025a2017). We propose a three-tier principle of transparency, replication and triangulation that should be achieved before

Description: Publishing: Reformatting wastes public funds Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543040e Author: Julian Budd Limited public funds for scientific research are being spent on reformatting manuscripts for different journals, without any apparent gain for science or society (see Q.GuoNature540, 525;10.1038/540525d2016 and J. P.MooreNature542, 31;10.1038/542031e2017

Description: Drug screening: Don't discount all curcumin trial data Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543040c Author: Michal Heger We argue that the clinical potential of the spice extract curcumin should not be dismissed simply on the grounds that it yields confusing results in molecular drug screens (Nature541, 144–145;10.1038/541144a2017; see also K. M.Nelsonet

Description: Complement drives glucosylceramide accumulation and tissue inflammation in Gaucher disease Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21368 Authors: Manoj K. Pandey, Thomas A. Burrow, Reena Rani, Lisa J. Martin, David Witte, Kenneth D. Setchell, Mary A. Mckay, Albert F. Magnusen, Wujuan Zhang, Benjamin Liou, Jörg Köhl & Gregory A. Grabowski Gaucher disease is caused by mutations in GBA1, which encodes the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase). GBA1 mutations drive extensive accumulation of glucosylceramide (GC) in multiple innate and adaptive immune cells in the spleen, liver, lung and bone marrow, often leading to chronic inflammation. The mechanisms that connect excess GC to tissue inflammation remain unknown. Here we show that activation of complement C5a and C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) controls GC accumulation and the inflammatory response in experimental and clinical Gaucher disease. Marked local and systemic complement activation occurred in GCase-deficient mice or after pharmacological inhibition of GCase and was associated with GC storage, tissue inflammation and proinflammatory cytokine production. Whereas all GCase-inhibited mice died within 4–5 weeks, mice deficient in both GCase and C5aR1, and wild-type mice in which GCase and C5aR were pharmacologically inhibited, were protected from these adverse effects and consequently survived. In mice and humans, GCase deficiency was associated with strong formation of complement-activating GC-specific IgG autoantibodies, leading to complement activation and C5a generation. Subsequent C5aR1 activation controlled UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase production, thereby tipping the balance between GC formation and degradation. Thus, extensive GC storage induces complement-activating IgG autoantibodies that drive a pathway of C5a generation and C5aR1 activation that fuels a cycle of cellular GC accumulation, innate and adaptive immune cell recruitment and activation in Gaucher disease. As enzyme replacement and substrate reduction therapies are expensive and still associated with inflammation, increased risk of cancer and Parkinson disease, targeting C5aR1 may serve as a treatment option for patients with Gaucher disease and, possibly, other lysosomal storage diseases.

Description: Biomaterials: A super-strong underwater glue Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543009a A synthetic adhesive inspired by the sticky proteins made by mussels can bind to wet surfaces more tightly than even live mussels can.Previous mussel-mimicking adhesives were strong when dry, but less effective underwater. Jonathan Wilker and his colleagues at Purdue University in West Lafayette,

Description: Neuroscience: Predicting smell from structure Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543009c Algorithms can predict a molecule's odour on the basis of its chemical structure.Pablo Meyer at IBM's Computational Biology Center in Yorktown Heights, New York, and his colleagues, asked 49 people to smell hundreds of molecules (pictured) and rate them on intensity, pleasantness

Description: Anthropology: Skulls show migration history Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543009d A study of skulls of early people in South America suggests that there were multiple waves of migration into the New World more than 10,000 years ago.Wide variation in the skull shape of modern South American people has triggered debate over whether this results

Description: Plant science: The plant as pugilist Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/543039a Author: Ian T. Baldwin Ian T. Baldwin revels in a volume that reminds us of the arsenals of the undergrowth.

Description: The response of relativistic outflowing gas to the inner accretion disk of a black hole Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21385 Authors: Michael L. Parker, Ciro Pinto, Andrew C. Fabian, Anne Lohfink, Douglas J. K. Buisson, William N. Alston, Erin Kara, Edward M. Cackett, Chia-Ying Chiang, Thomas Dauser, Barbara De Marco, Luigi C. Gallo, Javier Garcia, Fiona A. Harrison, Ashley L. King, Matthew J. Middleton, Jon M. Miller, Giovanni Miniutti, Christopher S. Reynolds, Phil Uttley, Ranjan Vasudevan, Dominic J. Walton, Daniel R. Wilkins & Abderahmen Zoghbi The brightness of an active galactic nucleus is set by the gas falling onto it from the galaxy, and the gas infall rate is regulated by the brightness of the active galactic nucleus; this feedback loop is the process by which supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies may moderate the growth of their hosts. Gas outflows (in the form of disk winds) release huge quantities of energy into the interstellar medium, potentially clearing the surrounding gas. The most extreme (in terms of speed and energy) of these—the ultrafast outflows—are the subset of X-ray-detected outflows with velocities higher than 10,000 kilometres per second, believed to originate in relativistic (that is, near the speed of light) disk winds a few hundred gravitational radii from the black hole. The absorption features produced by these outflows are variable, but no clear link has been found between the behaviour of the X-ray continuum and the velocity or optical depth of the outflows, owing to the long timescales of quasar variability. Here we report the observation of multiple absorption lines from an extreme ultrafast gas flow in the X-ray spectrum of the active galactic nucleus IRAS 13224−3809, at 0.236 ± 0.006 times the speed of light (71,000 kilometres per second), where the absorption is strongly anti-correlated with the emission of X-rays from the inner regions of the accretion disk. If the gas flow is identified as a genuine outflow then it is in the fastest five per cent of such winds, and its variability is hundreds of times faster than in other variable winds, allowing us to observe in hours what would take months in a quasar. We find X-ray spectral signatures of the wind simultaneously in both low- and high-energy detectors, suggesting a single ionized outflow, linking the low- and high-energy absorption lines. That this disk wind is responding to the emission from the inner accretion disk demonstrates a connection between accretion processes occurring on very different scales: the X-ray emission from within a few gravitational radii of the black hole ionizing the disk wind hundreds of gravitational radii further away as the X-ray flux rises.

Description: Abiotic tooth enamel Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21410 Authors: Bongjun Yeom, Trisha Sain, Naida Lacevic, Daria Bukharina, Sang-Ho Cha, Anthony M. Waas, Ellen M. Arruda & Nicholas A. Kotov Tooth enamel comprises parallel microscale and nanoscale ceramic columns or prisms interlaced with a soft protein matrix. This structural motif is unusually consistent across all species from all geological eras. Such invariability—especially when juxtaposed with the diversity of other tissues—suggests the existence of a functional basis. Here we performed ex vivo replication of enamel-inspired columnar nanocomposites by sequential growth of zinc oxide nanowire carpets followed by layer-by-layer deposition of a polymeric matrix around these. We show that the mechanical properties of these nanocomposites, including hardness, are comparable to those of enamel despite the nanocomposites having a smaller hard-phase content. Our abiotic enamels have viscoelastic figures of merit (VFOM) and weight-adjusted VFOM that are similar to, or higher than, those of natural tooth enamels—we achieve values that exceed the traditional materials limits of 0.6 and 0.8, respectively. VFOM values describe resistance to vibrational damage, and our columnar composites demonstrate that light-weight materials of unusually high resistance to structural damage from shocks, environmental vibrations and oscillatory stress can be made using biomimetic design. The previously inaccessible combinations of high stiffness, damping and light weight that we achieve in these layer-by-layer composites are attributed to efficient energy dissipation in the interfacial portion of the organic phase. The in vivo contribution of this interfacial portion to macroscale deformations along the tooth’s normal is maximized when the architecture is columnar, suggesting an evolutionary advantage of the columnar motif in the enamel of living species. We expect our findings to apply to all columnar composites and to lead to the development of high-performance load-bearing materials.

Description: The integral role of iron in ocean biogeochemistry Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21058 Authors: Alessandro Tagliabue, Andrew R. Bowie, Philip W. Boyd, Kristen N. Buck, Kenneth S. Johnson & Mak A. Saito The micronutrient iron is now recognized to be important in regulating the magnitude and dynamics of ocean primary productivity, making it an integral component of the ocean’s biogeochemical cycles. In this Review, we discuss how a recent increase in observational data for this trace metal

Description: Corrigendum: SRA- and SET-domain-containing proteins link RNA polymerase V occupancy to DNA methylation Nature 543, 7643 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature21398 Authors: Lianna M. Johnson, Jiamu Du, Christopher J. Hale, Sylvain Bischof, Suhua Feng, Ramakrishna K. Chodavarapu, Xuehua Zhong, Giuseppe Marson, Matteo Pellegrini, David J. Segal, Dinshaw J. Patel & Steven E. Jacobsen Nature507, 124–128 (2014); doi:10.1038/nature12931In this Letter, we showed that tethering SUVH2 with a zinc finger to the FWA gene was sufficient to cause DNA methylation and gene silencing. We have discovered that we inadvertently used

Description: UK election: science spending pledges overshadowed by Brexit Nature 546, 7656 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/546016a Author: Daniel Cressey Parties promise more money for research, but scientists fear impact of split with European Union.

Description: Genome editing: That's the way the CRISPR crumbles Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546030a Author: Nathaniel Comfort Nathaniel Comfort finds heroism but little nuance in Jennifer Doudna's account of her co-discovery.

Description: Trials of embryonic stem cells to launch in China Nature 546, 7656 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/546015a Author: David Cyranoski Studies to treat vision loss and Parkinson’s disease are the first to proceed under new regulations.

Description: Neutron stars set to open their heavy hearts Nature 546, 7656 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/546018a Author: Elizabeth Gibney Space mission will peer inside the densest matter in the Universe.

Description: Govern land as a global commons Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546028a Author: Felix Creutzig Felix Creutzig calls for international coordination of land use to ensure everyone has access to its fruits.

Description: Trump budget would slash science programmes across government Nature 546, 7656 (2017). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature.2017.22036 Authors: Sara Reardon, Jeff Tollefson, Alexandra Witze & Erin Ross Proposed cuts include 11% at the National Science Foundation, 18% at the National Institutes of Health and 30% at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Description: Retractions: Stamp out fake peer review Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546033a Authors: Jian Gao & Tao Zhou In the wake of large-scale retraction scandals, we urge scientific publishers to be more proactive in stamping out fake peer-reviewing practices. They should work with editors, authors and research institutes to implement an effective system of precautions and penalties.Fraudulent peer review can arise when

Description: Books in brief Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546031a Author: Barbara Kiser Barbara Kiser reviews five of the week's best science picks.

Description: Taxonomy anarchy hampers conservation Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546025a Authors: Stephen T. Garnett & Les Christidis The classification of complex organisms is in chaos. Stephen T. Garnett and Les Christidis propose a solution.

Description: Training: Lure young surgeons on to research tracks Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546033c Author: Daniel S. Alt To help alleviate the shortage of surgeon-scientists in the United States, MD–PhD training programmes funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) need reforming to encourage more clinician-scientist trainees to consider this career path (see Nature544, 393–394;10.1038/544393b2017).

Description: Paths of glory Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/nj7656-177a Author: Ushma S Neill Look past the academia treadmill, says Ushma S. Neill.

Description: Unsung heroes: Value coordinating roles in research Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546033b Authors: Eleanor M. Slade & Terhi Riutta Academic-coordination roles can be even harder to sell on a CV than teaching responsibilities (see Naturedoi.org/b7gn; 2017). These include activities such as mentoring students; organizing research projects, meetings, workshops and talks; managing data; and running a lab group's websites and social media

Description: Art: Under Mona Lisa's smile Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546032a Author: Philip Ball Philip Ball is intrigued by an analysis of Leonardo's iconic painting.

Description: Workplace habits: Full-time is full enough Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/nj7656-175a Author: Chris Woolston Some scientists are fighting a toxic belief that a 50-hour working week is 'slacking off'.

Description: Ageing: Rejuvenation study stirs old memories Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546033e Authors: Matthis Krischel & Nils Hansson The media reaction to the revitalization of aged mice by a human protein (see Naturehttp://doi.org/b7gd; 2017, and J. M.Castellanoet al. Nature544, 488–492;10.1038/nature220672017) echoes the enthusiasm that greeted rejuvenation techniques proposed almost

Description: Data management: Stable identifiers for collection specimens Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546033d Authors: Quentin Groom, Roger Hyam & Anton Güntsch Members of the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities have adopted a consistent citation system for an estimated 20 million biological and geological specimens from European collections. We encourage researchers, publishers and other institutions to engage with this initiative by citing the full specimen identifier in

Description: Biodiversity Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/546047a Author: Anna Armstrong The tremendous diversity of life on Earth — a result of more than three billion years of evolutionary history — is facing an uncertain future. This Insight looks at how this biodiversity came to be, how it supports the goods and ecosystem services on which

Description: Linking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature22899 Authors: Forest Isbell, Andrew Gonzalez, Michel Loreau, Jane Cowles, Sandra Díaz, Andy Hector, Georgina M. Mace, David A. Wardle, Mary I. O'Connor, J. Emmett Duffy, Lindsay A. Turnbull, Patrick L. Thompson & Anne Larigauderie Biodiversity enhances many of nature's benefits to people, including the regulation of climate and the production of wood in forests, livestock forage in grasslands and fish in aquatic ecosystems. Yet people are now driving the sixth mass extinction event in Earth's history. Human dependence and

Description: Blocking FSH induces thermogenic adipose tissue and reduces body fat Nature 546, 7656 (2017). doi:10.1038/nature22342 Authors: Peng Liu, Yaoting Ji, Tony Yuen, Elizabeth Rendina-Ruedy, Victoria E. DeMambro, Samarth Dhawan, Wahid Abu-Amer, Sudeh Izadmehr, Bin Zhou, Andrew C. Shin, Rauf Latif, Priyanthan Thangeswaran, Animesh Gupta, Jianhua Li, Valeria Shnayder, Samuel T. Robinson, Yue Eric Yu, Xingjian Zhang, Feiran Yang, Ping Lu, Yu Zhou, Ling-Ling Zhu, Douglas J. Oberlin, Terry F. Davies, Michaela R. Reagan, Aaron Brown, T. Rajendra Kumar, Solomon Epstein, Jameel Iqbal, Narayan G. Avadhani, Maria I. New, Henrik Molina, Jan B. van Klinken, Edward X. Guo, Christoph Buettner, Shozeb Haider, Zhuan Bian, Li Sun, Clifford J. Rosen & Mone Zaidi Menopause is associated with bone loss and enhanced visceral adiposity. A polyclonal antibody that targets the β-subunit of the pituitary hormone follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) increases bone mass in mice. Here, we report that this antibody sharply reduces adipose tissue in wild-type mice, phenocopying genetic haploinsufficiency