Virus deploys a ‘loose cannon’ enzyme to overpower bacterial defences

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02537-xViruses that infect bacteria must either evade or counter the defence systems of their host. The viral kinase enzyme T7K has been found to phosphorylate nearly all…

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02537-x

Viruses that infect bacteria must either evade or counter the defence systems of their host. The viral kinase enzyme T7K has been found to phosphorylate nearly all bacterial proteins, but its specificity for DNA-binding proteins enables it to disable defence systems that target nucleic acids.

A revolutionary stem-cell therapy must proceed responsibly to achieve its full potential

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02524-2It is 20 years since induced pluripotent stem cells shook biomedicine. Public trust must be retained now that clinical trials are well under way.

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02524-2

It is 20 years since induced pluripotent stem cells shook biomedicine. Public trust must be retained now that clinical trials are well under way.

Scientific expedition makes the best of bad weather

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02381-zResearchers grapple with the causes of evolution, and a sea voyage is blighted by storms, in our weekly dip into Nature’s archive.

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02381-z

Researchers grapple with the causes of evolution, and a sea voyage is blighted by storms, in our weekly dip into Nature’s archive.

Ultrafast temporal engineering of optical properties using terahertz light

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02478-5A photonic time crystal is an optical system of which properties such as its refractive index are modulated strongly and rapidly over time. One has now been obtain…

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02478-5

A photonic time crystal is an optical system of which properties such as its refractive index are modulated strongly and rapidly over time. One has now been obtained all-optically by delivering an intense terahertz light wave onto a material with a specialized microstructure that hosts collective waves of electrons known as plasmons.