Month: September 2026

Lu<sup>+</sup> optical frequency references with accuracy verified at the 19th digit

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11072-8Two independent 176Lu+ single-ion optical clocks achieve fractional frequency uncertainties near 10−19 and agree at 5.7 × 10−19, advancing precision timekeeping…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11072-8

Two independent 176Lu+ single-ion optical clocks achieve fractional frequency uncertainties near 10−19 and agree at 5.7 × 10−19, advancing precision timekeeping.

Brain lipids are organized into zones — and reorganized during pregnancy

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02772-2A map of fats across the whole mouse brain reveals a spatial architecture that differs from that seen in gene-expression and protein atlases.

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02772-2

A map of fats across the whole mouse brain reveals a spatial architecture that differs from that seen in gene-expression and protein atlases.

Bank accounts reveal the fingerprints of abusive financial control

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03021-2Analysis of anonymized banking data could help inform strategies to support victim-survivors of financial abuse — plus, how opposing forces within the Earth can…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03021-2

Analysis of anonymized banking data could help inform strategies to support victim-survivors of financial abuse — plus, how opposing forces within the Earth can alter the length of a day.

The anthropogenic fingerprint on emerging infectious diseases

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11058-6Emerging infectious disease outbreak risks are ubiquitous worldwide, and highest in landscapes where people, livestock and fragmented natural ecosystems coexist…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11058-6

Emerging infectious disease outbreak risks are ubiquitous worldwide, and highest in landscapes where people, livestock and fragmented natural ecosystems coexist, but detection and data on outbreaks are currently limited by inequalities in healthcare access.

The gene-regulatory evolution of the human skeleton

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11053-xMassively parallel reporter assays and human–ape hybrid skeletal cells are used to study the evolution of human cis-regulatory elements (CREs), revealing how di…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11053-x

Massively parallel reporter assays and human–ape hybrid skeletal cells are used to study the evolution of human cis-regulatory elements (CREs), revealing how differences in CREs have shaped the composition of human skeletal tissue.

Single-nucleus transcriptome-wide association study of human brain disorders

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10836-6Single-nucleus transcriptomics across diverse populations is used to explore how genetic risk for brain disorders affects specific cell types, revealing previou…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10836-6

Single-nucleus transcriptomics across diverse populations is used to explore how genetic risk for brain disorders affects specific cell types, revealing previously hidden gene–trait associations and conserved, cell-type-specific mechanisms.

Gravitational torque drives multidecadal variations in length of day

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10999-2Multidecadal fluctuations in Earth’s length of day are shown to be driven by gravitational torque and resisted by electromagnetic and topographic forces, improv…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10999-2

Multidecadal fluctuations in Earth’s length of day are shown to be driven by gravitational torque and resisted by electromagnetic and topographic forces, improving our understanding of the material properties and dynamics of Earth’s deep interior.

Conifer trees can prosper half a world away from their usual home

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02771-3Northern Hemisphere trees planted in the Southern Hemisphere can thrive, displaying increased stem growth and physiological signals linked to reduced stress.

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02771-3

Northern Hemisphere trees planted in the Southern Hemisphere can thrive, displaying increased stem growth and physiological signals linked to reduced stress.

A quadruped robot designed to complete a marathon on a single battery charge

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11102-5RAIBO2, an energy-efficient quadruped robot, completed a full marathon in 4 hours, 19 minutes and 52 seconds on a single battery charge, achieving a total cost …

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11102-5

RAIBO2, an energy-efficient quadruped robot, completed a full marathon in 4 hours, 19 minutes and 52 seconds on a single battery charge, achieving a total cost of transport of 0.25 that surpasses the human benchmark of 0.37.

Organic two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11074-6Sequential on-water-surface assembly enables layer-by-layer stacking of two-dimensional polymers to create both lattice-matched and controlled lattice-mismatche…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11074-6

Sequential on-water-surface assembly enables layer-by-layer stacking of two-dimensional polymers to create both lattice-matched and controlled lattice-mismatched van der Waals heterostructures with defined lattice registry, stacking sequence and thickness.