Why AI systems are most useful as designers of new scientific tools

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02529-xHistory shows that breakthroughs are often sparked by innovative instruments, and AI’s ability to help design them might be its most important scientific contribut…

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02529-x

History shows that breakthroughs are often sparked by innovative instruments, and AI’s ability to help design them might be its most important scientific contribution.

Too hot to sleep? How heatwaves at night affect our health

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02532-2As climate change ramps up, scientists must urgently understand how night-time heat makes it harder for our bodies to rest and recover.

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02532-2

As climate change ramps up, scientists must urgently understand how night-time heat makes it harder for our bodies to rest and recover.

How the story of life and our planet unfolded — together

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02530-4Earth’s four-billion-year-long conversation with its resident life forms has shaped our world, and holds lessons for our future.

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02530-4

Earth’s four-billion-year-long conversation with its resident life forms has shaped our world, and holds lessons for our future.

Universities must stop protecting bullies — or more people will leave science

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02526-0Letting powerful academics off the hook and punishing the people they bullied sends the message that abuse is acceptable in academia.

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02526-0

Letting powerful academics off the hook and punishing the people they bullied sends the message that abuse is acceptable in academia.

Author Correction: Cell intrinsic immunity spreads to bystander cells via the intercellular transfer of cGAMP

Nature, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11023-3Author Correction: Cell intrinsic immunity spreads to bystander cells via the intercellular transfer of cGAMP

Nature, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11023-3

Author Correction: Cell intrinsic immunity spreads to bystander cells via the intercellular transfer of cGAMP

Briefing Chat: Anthropic rolls out new AI watermark — will it make a difference?

Nature, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02562-wNature staff discuss what flagging AI content may mean for research integrity — plus, how people from different cultural backgrounds have the same ‘tickle hotspots…

Nature, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02562-w

Nature staff discuss what flagging AI content may mean for research integrity — plus, how people from different cultural backgrounds have the same ‘tickle hotspots’ on the body.

Daily briefing: Ancient rise in CO<sub>2</sub> hints at what could happen today

Nature, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02581-7A sharp rise in carbon dioxide around 56 million years ago was catastrophic for forests. Plus, mRNA-based flu vaccines have been approved in the United States and …

Nature, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02581-7

A sharp rise in carbon dioxide around 56 million years ago was catastrophic for forests. Plus, mRNA-based flu vaccines have been approved in the United States and Anthropic is to introduce an AI watermark.