First mission to fly through monstrous ‘fire clouds’ is about to take off

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02351-5The towering formations appearing over severe wildfires in France and Oregon loft smoke so high they have global consequences.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02351-5

The towering formations appearing over severe wildfires in France and Oregon loft smoke so high they have global consequences.

Skin cancer spreads between catfish in a freshwater lake

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02287-wThe discovery of a transmissible melanoma in a freshwater catfish raises questions about the disease’s origin, mode of transmission and broader impact on the species.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02287-w

The discovery of a transmissible melanoma in a freshwater catfish raises questions about the disease’s origin, mode of transmission and broader impact on the species.

Editorial Expression of Concern: Carcinoma-produced factors activate myeloid cells through TLR2 to stimulate metastasis

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10923-8Editorial Expression of Concern: Carcinoma-produced factors activate myeloid cells through TLR2 to stimulate metastasis

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10923-8

Editorial Expression of Concern: Carcinoma-produced factors activate myeloid cells through TLR2 to stimulate metastasis

First volunteer gets Ebola vaccine — three months after the outbreak began

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02278-xThe University of Oxford has already vaccinated its first clinical-trial participant. The study’s lead scientist, Teresa Lambe, tells Nature how the team was able to…

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02278-x

The University of Oxford has already vaccinated its first clinical-trial participant. The study’s lead scientist, Teresa Lambe, tells Nature how the team was able to move so fast.

Led by the nose: a queen’s scent shapes naked mole rat society

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02286-xNaked mole rats live in colonies characterized by having a single breeding queen. It emerges that a queen-associated chemical helps to maintain this reproductive hie…

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02286-x

Naked mole rats live in colonies characterized by having a single breeding queen. It emerges that a queen-associated chemical helps to maintain this reproductive hierarchy.

Daily briefing: Why all living cells emit a faint glow

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02363-1The emission of ‘biophotons’ could be a cell’s way of communicating with its neighbours. Plus, a ‘timer’ in the brain that tracks sleep and who is accountable when p…

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02363-1

The emission of ‘biophotons’ could be a cell’s way of communicating with its neighbours. Plus, a ‘timer’ in the brain that tracks sleep and who is accountable when physicians and AI work together.

Consciousness research is having an AI moment. Will the hype help the field?

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02300-2The idea of AI sentience is drawing more focus to consciousness science. But some researchers aren’t sure that’s a good thing.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02300-2

The idea of AI sentience is drawing more focus to consciousness science. But some researchers aren’t sure that’s a good thing.