South Africa’s scientists must register with official body or risk prison, according to draft law

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02516-2Many researchers are unaware of an upcoming law that will require them to register with a regulatory body, as is the case for engineers and healthcare professonals.

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02516-2

Many researchers are unaware of an upcoming law that will require them to register with a regulatory body, as is the case for engineers and healthcare professonals.

Screening babies’ genomes could save lives. Here’s how it would work

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02528-yMassive genomic newborn-screening studies are under way all over the globe. But questions about scalability, feasibility and net benefit remain.

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02528-y

Massive genomic newborn-screening studies are under way all over the globe. But questions about scalability, feasibility and net benefit remain.

NIH proposes major revamp of how it scores research grant proposals

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02584-4Proponents argue that the current system creates a false sense of precision, but critics fear that the change could increase political interference.

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02584-4

Proponents argue that the current system creates a false sense of precision, but critics fear that the change could increase political interference.

A revolutionary stem-cell therapy must proceed responsibly to achieve its full potential

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02524-2It is 20 years since induced pluripotent stem cells shook biomedicine. Public trust must be retained now that clinical trials are well under way.

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02524-2

It is 20 years since induced pluripotent stem cells shook biomedicine. Public trust must be retained now that clinical trials are well under way.

Scientific expedition makes the best of bad weather

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02381-zResearchers grapple with the causes of evolution, and a sea voyage is blighted by storms, in our weekly dip into Nature’s archive.

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02381-z

Researchers grapple with the causes of evolution, and a sea voyage is blighted by storms, in our weekly dip into Nature’s archive.