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.

Why some wool is wavy

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02104-4How crimps form in the coats of sheep, and the history of the word ‘ionosphere’, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02104-4

How crimps form in the coats of sheep, and the history of the word ‘ionosphere’, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

Fertility clinics are offering young mitochondria in controversial fertility technique

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01935-5Researchers are alarmed that the procedure, which has not been rigorously studied, is being advertised by clinics around the world.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01935-5

Researchers are alarmed that the procedure, which has not been rigorously studied, is being advertised by clinics around the world.

Medical AI has a measurement problem

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02125-zThe development of two medical AI assistants highlights an unnerving challenge: as the technology races ahead, what is the best way to evaluate what works?

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02125-z

The development of two medical AI assistants highlights an unnerving challenge: as the technology races ahead, what is the best way to evaluate what works?

All living things emit a faint glow. Could this light be useful?

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02311-zUltra-weak ‘biophotons’ might be used to diagnose disease, or could even represent a new signalling mechanism in cells.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02311-z

Ultra-weak ‘biophotons’ might be used to diagnose disease, or could even represent a new signalling mechanism in cells.