Month: September 2026

Oddball fossils suggest that the first insects were a mixed bunch

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02710-2As the most diverse class of animals, insects have dominated terrestrial ecosystems for the past 320 million years. However, the origins of this successful grou…

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02710-2

As the most diverse class of animals, insects have dominated terrestrial ecosystems for the past 320 million years. However, the origins of this successful group have faded into the abysses of geological time. A collection of fossils reveals the unusual body plans and evolutionary experiments that could have contributed to the success of insects.

Nasal vaccines could stop pandemics before they begin

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02656-5Sparking an immune response where microbes enter the body should not only stop a person getting sick, but also prevent them spreading the infection to others.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02656-5

Sparking an immune response where microbes enter the body should not only stop a person getting sick, but also prevent them spreading the infection to others.

Proximity-guided graph learning reveals tumour-associated proximity antigens

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11003-7A proximity-mapping atlas defines tumour-associated proximity antigens, revealing disease-associated membrane spatial communities, and identifies EGFR–CDCP1 as …

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11003-7

A proximity-mapping atlas defines tumour-associated proximity antigens, revealing disease-associated membrane spatial communities, and identifies EGFR–CDCP1 as a co-target pair that enhances tumour killing by multispecific therapeutics.

Dose once, treat forever: drugs are being engineered to last much longer

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02660-9Medication that persists inside the body for months or years could transform the treatment and prevention of many conditions — especially in low- and middle-inc…

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02660-9

Medication that persists inside the body for months or years could transform the treatment and prevention of many conditions — especially in low- and middle-income countries.

TM184C is a GPCR-like regulator of intercellular exchange and autophagy

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10993-8TM184C—an ancient G-protein-coupled receptor-like superdark protein involved in regulation of autophagy, intercellular connectivity and material exchange—unders…

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10993-8

TM184C—an ancient G-protein-coupled receptor-like superdark protein involved in regulation of autophagy, intercellular connectivity and material exchange—underscores the promise of exploring the understudied human proteome and beyond.

Family-based analyses show how children’s genetics shape key traits

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02689-wThe Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study, called MoBa, includes genetic data from around 230,000 parents and children. Using about 44,000 father–moth…

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02689-w

The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study, called MoBa, includes genetic data from around 230,000 parents and children. Using about 44,000 father–mother–child trios, child and parental genetics were modelled together to estimate the effects of the children’s own genetic differences on their height, educational achievement, sleep duration and depressive symptoms.

Integrated signatures define mutational processes in prostate cancer

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10468-wEight integrated mutational footprints collectively explain the mutational processes in 85% of primary prostate cancer genomes.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10468-w

Eight integrated mutational footprints collectively explain the mutational processes in 85% of primary prostate cancer genomes.

The Einstein test: what happens when AI tries to rediscover relativity?

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02804-xScientists are probing whether language models trained on historical data can reproduce creative breakthroughs.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02804-x

Scientists are probing whether language models trained on historical data can reproduce creative breakthroughs.

Anodic Pd membrane H<sub>2</sub> extraction enhances thermochemical dehydrogenation

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11008-2An electrochemical cell with molten hydroxide and a Pd membrane actively extracts H2 and thereby boosts ammonia and methylcyclohexane conversion, while also del…

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11008-2

An electrochemical cell with molten hydroxide and a Pd membrane actively extracts H2 and thereby boosts ammonia and methylcyclohexane conversion, while also delivering purified H2 ready for use.