Author: Nature

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.

Human brain stimulation engages different gene programs in different cell types

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02473-wElectrical stimulation of the human brain is a promising strategy for slowing cognitive decline. The discovery of cell-type-specific gene programs that are induced…

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02473-w

Electrical stimulation of the human brain is a promising strategy for slowing cognitive decline. The discovery of cell-type-specific gene programs that are induced in tandem with the activity of networks of neurons in the temporal cortex when it is stimulated could inform the development of therapeutic approaches using stimulation.

Bow shocks reveal how a dying star returns matter to interstellar space

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02159-3Deep imaging of ionized gas in the Helix Nebula uncovers many curved shock waves around a dying Sun-like star. These ‘bow shocks’ are produced when ejected shells …

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02159-3

Deep imaging of ionized gas in the Helix Nebula uncovers many curved shock waves around a dying Sun-like star. These ‘bow shocks’ are produced when ejected shells of stellar material break up and race outwards. Their changing shapes imply that the shell fragments are being stripped, shredded and mixed into interstellar gas over roughly 10,000 years.

How the human brain can pursue two goals at the same time

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02395-7In the natural world, an animal can blend strategies so it can advance towards several goals at the same time. An engineering approach called control theory was us…

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02395-7

In the natural world, an animal can blend strategies so it can advance towards several goals at the same time. An engineering approach called control theory was used to infer people’s goals while they played a simple video game, and showed how three brain regions work together to implement goal blending.