AI researchers reckon with the $1.5 million ‘academia tax’

Nature, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02026-1Academics explain that their research freedom beats the increased salary they would get in the corporate sector, but emerging hybrid models might allow them to …

Nature, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02026-1

Academics explain that their research freedom beats the increased salary they would get in the corporate sector, but emerging hybrid models might allow them to get the best of both worlds.

Who were the Denisovans? Rich trove of fossils and tools paints new picture

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02810-zObjects found in a cave in southwestern China suggest that these enigmatic ancient humans were accomplished hunters.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02810-z

Objects found in a cave in southwestern China suggest that these enigmatic ancient humans were accomplished hunters.

AI model predicts which breast-cancer drugs work best

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02845-2Model trained on millions of protein measurements can gauge drug effectiveness in tissue samples taken from people with triple-negative breast cancer.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02845-2

Model trained on millions of protein measurements can gauge drug effectiveness in tissue samples taken from people with triple-negative breast cancer.

Oddball fossils suggest that the first insects were a mixed bunch

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02710-2As the most diverse class of animals, insects have dominated terrestrial ecosystems for the past 320 million years. However, the origins of this successful grou…

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02710-2

As the most diverse class of animals, insects have dominated terrestrial ecosystems for the past 320 million years. However, the origins of this successful group have faded into the abysses of geological time. A collection of fossils reveals the unusual body plans and evolutionary experiments that could have contributed to the success of insects.

Nasal vaccines could stop pandemics before they begin

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02656-5Sparking an immune response where microbes enter the body should not only stop a person getting sick, but also prevent them spreading the infection to others.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02656-5

Sparking an immune response where microbes enter the body should not only stop a person getting sick, but also prevent them spreading the infection to others.

Proximity-guided graph learning reveals tumour-associated proximity antigens

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11003-7A proximity-mapping atlas defines tumour-associated proximity antigens, revealing disease-associated membrane spatial communities, and identifies EGFR–CDCP1 as …

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11003-7

A proximity-mapping atlas defines tumour-associated proximity antigens, revealing disease-associated membrane spatial communities, and identifies EGFR–CDCP1 as a co-target pair that enhances tumour killing by multispecific therapeutics.