The geometric genius of René Descartes

Nature, Published online: 15 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02723-xThe achievements of a visionary mathematician, and a trip to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

Nature, Published online: 15 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02723-x

The achievements of a visionary mathematician, and a trip to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

Distant sensors announced a fearsome tsunami’s birth

Nature, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02809-6Seismic data pinpoint the collapse of an underwater volcano, and reveal how the eruption triggered a destructive tsunami.

Nature, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02809-6

Seismic data pinpoint the collapse of an underwater volcano, and reveal how the eruption triggered a destructive tsunami.

Electric charge makes drops of water more destructive

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02705-zIn many real-world settings, water droplets can become slightly charged as they slide across solid surfaces. This charge has been found to enable water droplets…

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02705-z

In many real-world settings, water droplets can become slightly charged as they slide across solid surfaces. This charge has been found to enable water droplets to damage protective coatings more easily than uncharged droplets do, and to cause the underlying metal to corrode.

Genetic associations with the Big Five personality traits probed in one million people

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02790-0Human DNA has been linked to personality traits — how individuals think, feel and act — thus identifying hundreds of genetic variants that contribute to the tra…

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02790-0

Human DNA has been linked to personality traits — how individuals think, feel and act — thus identifying hundreds of genetic variants that contribute to the traits’ moderate heritability. The pathways from DNA to personality are robust yet complex, with widespread relevance for health, wealth, work and love.