Written in development and lost in ageing: the grammar of cellular identity

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10955-0Ageing reflects progressive decanalization of mammalian cell identity, driven by erosion of a regulatory grammar written during development.

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10955-0

Ageing reflects progressive decanalization of mammalian cell identity, driven by erosion of a regulatory grammar written during development.

Prion-like transmission of human tau strains in the mouse brain

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11061-xMouse experiments show that Alzheimer’s disease and corticobasal degeneration tau filaments retain their distinct structures during templated seeding, supportin…

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11061-x

Mouse experiments show that Alzheimer’s disease and corticobasal degeneration tau filaments retain their distinct structures during templated seeding, supporting strain-specific tau propagation and disease modelling.

Osteoclasts intercept meningeal lymphatic paths for dural metastasis

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11082-6Osteoclast-derived angiopoietin-2 in the dura mater impairs lymphatic vessel function and weakens anti-tumour immunity against dural metastases, which offers ne…

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11082-6

Osteoclast-derived angiopoietin-2 in the dura mater impairs lymphatic vessel function and weakens anti-tumour immunity against dural metastases, which offers new therapeutic approaches to restore meningeal lymphatic function through selective osteoclast targeting.

An amygdala to anterior hypothalamic circuit gates stress sensitivity

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11075-5The anterior hypothalamic nucleus regulates negative valence in the brain, highlighting a new pathway that controls sensitivity to stressful events and signpost…

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11075-5

The anterior hypothalamic nucleus regulates negative valence in the brain, highlighting a new pathway that controls sensitivity to stressful events and signposting approaches to identify new circuit interactions relevant to mental health.

Pipework problems when cancer spreads to an area bordering the brain

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02783-zAnalysis of cancer growing adjacent to the brain reveals that bone-eroding cells interfere with lymphatic drainage vessels and hinder anti-tumour immune responses.

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02783-z

Analysis of cancer growing adjacent to the brain reveals that bone-eroding cells interfere with lymphatic drainage vessels and hinder anti-tumour immune responses.

Butterfly wing patterns in flight create powerful illusory motion cues

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11062-wButterfly wing patterns and flight dynamics work in tandem to create powerful visual illusions that confuse predators, potentially representing one of the most …

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11062-w

Butterfly wing patterns and flight dynamics work in tandem to create powerful visual illusions that confuse predators, potentially representing one of the most successful visual defence strategies in moving animals.

Scalable decision-making for games of imperfect information

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11036-yAtaraxos, an AI for the board wargame Stratego, establishes a design pattern for reinforcement learning and search that is effective under large amounts of hidd…

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11036-y

Ataraxos, an AI for the board wargame Stratego, establishes a design pattern for reinforcement learning and search that is effective under large amounts of hidden information, a longstanding desideratum of the field of strategic decision-making.

2D semiconductor aims to turbocharge development of high-performance electronics

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02777-xAn ultrathin semiconductor that conducts electricity using positively charged ‘holes’ might clear the way for next-generation electronic devices.

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02777-x

An ultrathin semiconductor that conducts electricity using positively charged ‘holes’ might clear the way for next-generation electronic devices.

Elena, Aris, Marcus: AI-generated ‘ghosts’ are polluting the scientific literature

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02991-7The overuse of certain names has revealed the scale of fake experts on academic publishing platforms, say researchers.

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02991-7

The overuse of certain names has revealed the scale of fake experts on academic publishing platforms, say researchers.