Author: Nature

Background genetics and new mutations interact to direct cancer evolution

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02155-7Rerunning tumour evolution in mice shows how cancer develops after DNA damage and reveals that background genetics and acquired mutations interact to shape genome st…

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02155-7

Rerunning tumour evolution in mice shows how cancer develops after DNA damage and reveals that background genetics and acquired mutations interact to shape genome stability and selection. This provides experimental evidence that genetic ancestry has an important role in setting the trajectory of cancer evolution.

A radical approach to making C-glycoside molecules

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02237-6A platform for synthesizing highly desirable C-glycoside molecules from sugar has been developed that uses glycosyl sulfonyl hydrazides as readily accessible free-ra…

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02237-6

A platform for synthesizing highly desirable C-glycoside molecules from sugar has been developed that uses glycosyl sulfonyl hydrazides as readily accessible free-radical precursors. The strategy enables targeted formation of carbon–carbon bonds across carbohydrate scaffolds and with specificity for the desired 3D arrangement of atoms.

Fly neurons carry a molecular ‘timestamp’ that encodes their birth order

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02240-xA single-cell gene-expression atlas of the fly nerve cord mapped onto its wiring diagram has uncovered a simple shared gene-expression code. The code enables neurons…

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02240-x

A single-cell gene-expression atlas of the fly nerve cord mapped onto its wiring diagram has uncovered a simple shared gene-expression code. The code enables neurons to carry a molecular memory of the order of their birth from a parent cell, and shapes their diversity.

Celebrating <i>Nature</i>’s covers — past, present and future

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02227-8Nature’s iconic front page uses inspiration, creativity and ingenuity to unite science and technology with art and design.

Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02227-8

Nature’s iconic front page uses inspiration, creativity and ingenuity to unite science and technology with art and design.

Are boldness and belligerence related?

Nature, Published online: 21 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02103-5Different types of aggression in stickleback fish, and a pillar of light seen at sunset, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

Nature, Published online: 21 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02103-5

Different types of aggression in stickleback fish, and a pillar of light seen at sunset, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

Improvements in educational opportunities go hand in hand with innovation

Nature, Published online: 15 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02016-3The first longitudinal regional atlas of intergenerational educational mobility shows that the subnational regions of Europe in which individuals’ educational opport…

Nature, Published online: 15 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02016-3

The first longitudinal regional atlas of intergenerational educational mobility shows that the subnational regions of Europe in which individuals’ educational opportunities are least dependent on the educational background of their parents tend to have the most innovation, as shown by the number of patents.