Lay of the land: terrestrial conservation efforts cover a wider area than thought

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03081-4Governments around the world have pledged to conserve 30% of the terrestrial realm by 2030, but official data suggest that the target is barely halfway to being m…

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03081-4

Governments around the world have pledged to conserve 30% of the terrestrial realm by 2030, but official data suggest that the target is barely halfway to being met. A combined global and national-level data set now shows that up to 27% of land area is conserved, but gaps in ecological representation remain.

Early tetrapod neck mobility modelled using an extant analogue

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11158-3Biomechanical analysis of several early tetrapods using sturgeon as an analogue revealed that early tetrapods had limited neck mobility despite separation of the …

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11158-3

Biomechanical analysis of several early tetrapods using sturgeon as an analogue revealed that early tetrapods had limited neck mobility despite separation of the head and shoulders.

Educational intervention can rewire village social networks

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11154-7A randomized controlled trial involving a health-education intervention in rural villages in Honduras shows that the intervention changed social network connectio…

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11154-7

A randomized controlled trial involving a health-education intervention in rural villages in Honduras shows that the intervention changed social network connections, including not only health-related connections but also friendships and financial ties.

Wave coarsening drives time crystallization in mechatronic metamaterials

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11163-6Wave coarsening in active elastic media is a phenomenon in which vibrations spontaneously increase in wavelength, period and amplitude before forming a globally s…

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11163-6

Wave coarsening in active elastic media is a phenomenon in which vibrations spontaneously increase in wavelength, period and amplitude before forming a globally synchronized time crystal.

Competing mechanisms toughen bcc binary and medium-entropy alloys at 20 K

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11065-7The mechanical properties of medium-entropy alloys at 20 K show a plateau in tensile yield strength and fracture toughness as a function of temperature, with no a…

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11065-7

The mechanical properties of medium-entropy alloys at 20 K show a plateau in tensile yield strength and fracture toughness as a function of temperature, with no apparent ductile-to-brittle transition.

<i>Elp1</i> is required for myeloid differentiation and brain repopulation

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11112-3Primary cultured haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are used to analyse the molecular mechanisms of brain myeloid differentiation, and this platform enabled…

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11112-3

Primary cultured haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are used to analyse the molecular mechanisms of brain myeloid differentiation, and this platform enabled the identification of elongation factor ELP1 as an important regulator of this process.

De novo design of cysteine proteases

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11143-wDe novo-designed enzymes use an activated cysteine nucleophile to hydrolyse polypeptide backbones in a sequence-dependent manner.

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11143-w

De novo-designed enzymes use an activated cysteine nucleophile to hydrolyse polypeptide backbones in a sequence-dependent manner.

Capillary-selective vasodilation through myosin inhibition halts ischaemic cascades

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11171-6R(+)2501 reverses capillary no-reflow by relaxing pericytes, restoring microvascular perfusion and improving survival in animal models of myocardial infarction an…

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11171-6

R(+)2501 reverses capillary no-reflow by relaxing pericytes, restoring microvascular perfusion and improving survival in animal models of myocardial infarction and acute kidney injury.

Will my lack of country-specific grants limit my chances of employment abroad?

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02442-3A researcher in Latin America seeks advice on the best way to present themselves when applying for faculty positions in Europe and North America.

Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02442-3

A researcher in Latin America seeks advice on the best way to present themselves when applying for faculty positions in Europe and North America.