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Stereodivergent 1,3-difunctionalization of alkenes by charge relocation
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06938-0
We introduce a method for the direct 1,3-difunctionalization of alkenes, based on a concept termed ‘charge relocation’, which enables stereodivergent access to 1,3-difunctionalized products of either syn- or anti-configuration from unactivated alkenes.Establishing reaction networks in the 16-electron sulfur reduction reaction
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06918-4
We investigate the mechanism underlying the sulfur reduction reaction that plays a central role in high-capacity lithium sulfur batteries, highlighting the electrocatalytic approach as a promising strategy for tackling the fundamental challenges associated with these batteries.Fertilizer management for global ammonia emission reduction
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07020-z
A machine learning model for generating crop-specific and spatially explicit NH3 emission factors globally shows that global NH3 emissions in 2018 were lower than previous estimates that did not fully consider fertilizer management practices.7-Dehydrocholesterol is an endogenous suppressor of ferroptosis
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06878-9
Proferroptotic activity of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase is shown along with an unexpected prosurvival function of its substrate, 7-dehydrocholesterol, indicating a cell-intrinsic mechanism that could be used by cancer cells to protect phospholipids from oxidative damage and escape ferroptosis.An epigenetic barrier sets the timing of human neuronal maturation
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06984-8
The slow maturation of human neurons is regulated by epigenetic modification in nascent neurons, mediated by EZH2, EHMT1, EHMT2 and DOT1L.Matrix viscoelasticity promotes liver cancer progression in the pre-cirrhotic liver
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06991-9
Structural changes mediated by advanced glycation end-products enhance extracellular matrix viscoelasticity, and that viscoelasticity can promote cancer progression in vivo, independent of stiffness.Single-photon superradiance in individual caesium lead halide quantum dots
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-07001-8
Excitonic single-photon superradiance is reported in individual perovskite quantum dots with a sub-100 ps radiative decay time, almost as short as the reported exciton coherence time.Single-neuronal elements of speech production in humans
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06982-w
Neuropixels recordings from the language-dominant prefrontal cortex reveal a structured organization of planned words, an encoding cascade of phonetic representations by prefrontal neurons in humans and a cellular process that could support the production of speech.Oxygen-evolving photosystem II structures during S<sub>1</sub>–S<sub>2</sub>–S<sub>3</sub> transitions
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06987-5
Serial femtosecond crystallography reveals the structural dynamics of photosystem II during the S-state transitions that produce dioxygen, providing insight into electron transfer, water insertion, proton release and O–O bond formation on sub-microsecond timescales.<i>Homo sapiens</i> reached the higher latitudes of Europe by 45,000 years ago
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06923-7
Through archaeological excavation, morphological and proteomic taxonomic identification, mitochondrial DNA analysis and direct radiocarbon dating of human remains, a study reports the presence of Homo sapiens in Germany north of the Alps more than 45,000 years ago.Conformational ensembles of the human intrinsically disordered proteome
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-07004-5
A computational model generates conformational ensembles of 28,058 intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDRs) in the human proteome and sheds light on the relationship between sequence, conformational properties and functions of IDRs.Top-predator recovery abates geomorphic decline of a coastal ecosystem
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06959-9
Sea otters recolonizing an estuary in California indirectly reduce erosion by reducing burrowing crab abundance, suggesting that restoring predators could be a key mechanism to improve the stability of coastal wetlands and other ecosystems.Stress response silencing by an E3 ligase mutated in neurodegeneration
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06985-7
The E3 ligase SIFI is identified as a dedicated silencing factor of the integrated stress response, a finding that has implications for the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases caused by mitochondrial protein import stress.Durable CO<sub>2</sub> conversion in the proton-exchange membrane system
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06917-5
We develop a proton-exchange membrane system that reduces CO2 to formic acid at a catalyst that is derived from waste lead–acid batteries and in which a lattice carbon activation mechanism contributes.The Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study enables generational genetic discoveries
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06988-4
Analysis of data from the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study comprising mainly of trios and mother–infant pairs reveals novel East Asian-specific genetic associations with maternal bile acid, gestational weight gain and infant cord blood traits.SHR and SCR coordinate root patterning and growth early in the cell cycle
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06971-z
Quantitative time-resolved microscopy analysis of SHR and SCR dynamics in single cells of living Arabidopsis roots shows that these transcription factors coordinate formative and proliferative cell divisions early in the cell cycle.Flexible silicon solar cells with high power-to-weight ratios
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06948-y
A study reports a combination of processing, optimization and low-damage deposition methods for the production of silicon heterojunction solar cells exhibiting flexibility and high performance.7-Dehydrocholesterol dictates ferroptosis sensitivity
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06983-9
7-Dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) is a natural anti-ferroptotic metabolite and pharmacological manipulation of 7-DHC levels shows promise as a therapeutic strategy for cancer and ischaemia–reperfusion injury.High-quality semiconductor fibres via mechanical design
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06946-0
A mechanical design is developed for the fabrication of ultralong, fracture-free and perturbation-free semiconductor fibres to address the increasing demand for flexible and wearable optoelectronics.Ultracold field-linked tetratomic molecules
Nature, Published online: 31 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06986-6
Ultracold polyatomic molecules can be created by electroassociation in a degenerate Fermi gas of microwave-dressed polar molecules through a field-linked resonance.