Earliest siphuncle-bearing cephalopod from the early Cambrian

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10868-yEarly Cambrian Eoceras shaanxiense gen. et sp. nov. preserves septa and a segmented tube resembling a primordial siphuncle, extending cephalopod origins and revealin…

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10868-y

Early Cambrian Eoceras shaanxiense gen. et sp. nov. preserves septa and a segmented tube resembling a primordial siphuncle, extending cephalopod origins and revealing early assembly of chambered shells used for buoyancy regulation.

Plasmonic metamaterial time crystal

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10825-9A plasmonic metamaterial driven at terahertz frequencies achieves strong, ultrafast temporal modulation and shows a transition to the photonic time crystal regime wi…

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10825-9

A plasmonic metamaterial driven at terahertz frequencies achieves strong, ultrafast temporal modulation and shows a transition to the photonic time crystal regime with reduced plasmonic losses.

In situ structure of the poxvirus portal complex

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10856-2Cryo-electron tomography uncovers the structure of a conserved hexameric ‘portal complex’ that spans the core wall in vaccinia virus, and shows how it is associated …

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10856-2

Cryo-electron tomography uncovers the structure of a conserved hexameric ‘portal complex’ that spans the core wall in vaccinia virus, and shows how it is associated with viral functions such as assembly, mRNA release and genome uncoating.

Rational design of disordered proteins for sequence–function investigation

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10849-1GOOSE enables the design and testing of thousands of disordered protein region sequences to reveal distinct sequence-to-function relationships.

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10849-1

GOOSE enables the design and testing of thousands of disordered protein region sequences to reveal distinct sequence-to-function relationships.

Quantum meets capitalism: how to pair long-term bets on technology with commercial speed

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02310-0Quantum computing exists because governments funded risky bets. Capitalism can carry it the rest of the way — if quantum scientists are supported.

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02310-0

Quantum computing exists because governments funded risky bets. Capitalism can carry it the rest of the way — if quantum scientists are supported.

A global view of human centromere variation and evolution

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10841-9Complete sequencing of more than 2,000 centromeres from diverse humans reveals structures and elevated mutation rates that shape the evolution of these critically im…

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10841-9

Complete sequencing of more than 2,000 centromeres from diverse humans reveals structures and elevated mutation rates that shape the evolution of these critically important regions.

The past and future impact of climate change on childhood malaria in Africa

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10840-wClimate and econometric modelling reveal that human-induced climate change is shifting the burden of childhood malaria in Africa.

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10840-w

Climate and econometric modelling reveal that human-induced climate change is shifting the burden of childhood malaria in Africa.

A digitally controlled silicon quantum processing unit

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10754-7A silicon quantum processing unit executes high-fidelity multiqubit circuits, with all time-varying control signals generated by a digitally programmed cryogenic com…

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10754-7

A silicon quantum processing unit executes high-fidelity multiqubit circuits, with all time-varying control signals generated by a digitally programmed cryogenic complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor controller and delivered to the low-noise, exchange-only qubit device through a high-density superconducting ribbon cable.

Cretaceous zhelestid mammals are zalambdalestoids

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10861-5New Mongolian fossil evidence shows zhelestids were not placental-like herbivore relatives, but a dental variant within Zalambdalestoidea, with distinctive molars al…

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10861-5

New Mongolian fossil evidence shows zhelestids were not placental-like herbivore relatives, but a dental variant within Zalambdalestoidea, with distinctive molars alongside zalambdalestid skull and limb traits.

Enzymatic glycosylation and amidation reshapes polyene bioactivity

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10834-8Pathways to previously undescribed polyenes, including unusual enzymes that introduce more sugars onto polyene scaffolds, are discovered, and their accessibility thr…

Nature, Published online: 29 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10834-8

Pathways to previously undescribed polyenes, including unusual enzymes that introduce more sugars onto polyene scaffolds, are discovered, and their accessibility through clean and efficient fermentation and potential for safe use as antifungal treatments is described.