Why science needs the humanities more than ever

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01958-yFrom AI to biotechnology, today’s scientific breakthroughs raise ethical and social challenges that technical expertise alone cannot solve.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01958-y

From AI to biotechnology, today’s scientific breakthroughs raise ethical and social challenges that technical expertise alone cannot solve.

The mutational landscape of STING-induced immunity

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10685-3A massively parallel assay systematically charts the sequence-function landscape of the STING signalling protein, and the findings define molecular principles that t…

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10685-3

A massively parallel assay systematically charts the sequence-function landscape of the STING signalling protein, and the findings define molecular principles that tune STING activity and show its functional potential across immune contexts.

Crude oil turns cheap porous membrane into a sieve to refine itself without heat

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01896-9An inexpensive, porous polymer membrane helps to separate raw crude oil, without heat or selective coating. Heavy hydrocarbons self-assemble inside the pores to crea…

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01896-9

An inexpensive, porous polymer membrane helps to separate raw crude oil, without heat or selective coating. Heavy hydrocarbons self-assemble inside the pores to create channels that are likely to be less than 2 nanometres wide, enriching the resulting permeate mix into light, ‘naphtha range’ hydrocarbons with 30% less energy cost and carbon dioxide emissions than conventional distillation.

‘Megacluster’ of genes enables bacteria to make potent antibiotic mixture

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01804-1Soil bacteria make cocktails of molecules that synergistically inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens — suggesting a strategy for tackling antibiotic-resistant in…

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01804-1

Soil bacteria make cocktails of molecules that synergistically inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens — suggesting a strategy for tackling antibiotic-resistant infections.

AI tool spots antibiotics that fight drug-resistant gonorrhoea

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01987-7The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae has evolved resistance to most antibiotics used to treat it, but a machine-learning screen reveals potential therapies.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01987-7

The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae has evolved resistance to most antibiotics used to treat it, but a machine-learning screen reveals potential therapies.

Medical records could be revealed by AI training-data vulnerability

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02032-3Identification risks are more severe for underrepresented groups in the training data — plus, evidence that the Universe is more uneven than assumed.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02032-3

Identification risks are more severe for underrepresented groups in the training data — plus, evidence that the Universe is more uneven than assumed.

Genomic insights into the population dynamics and demise of Neanderthals

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01704-4A surge of genetic data from the skeletal remains of Neanderthals disproves some assumptions and generates fresh questions about these ancient hominins.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01704-4

A surge of genetic data from the skeletal remains of Neanderthals disproves some assumptions and generates fresh questions about these ancient hominins.