Microsoft claims quantum-computing breakthrough — but some physicists are sceptical
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00527-z
The tech giant aims to make ‘topological’ quantum computers that will reach useful scales faster than competing technologies.Women need platforms to celebrate excellence in research and technology
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00510-8
Nature is proud to be associated with a new award for women in technology. The world needs more prizes for exceptional researchers and innovators.Putting the brakes on mitochondrial fusion to prevent escape of mitochondrial DNA
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00303-z
Cellular organelles called mitochondria contain DNA and can fuse together or split apart. It emerges that excess fusion is averted by stress-activated regulators, preventing the potentially harmful release of mitochondrial DNA.Why retractions data could be a powerful tool for cleaning up science
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00509-1
A Nature analysis of retractions hotspots around the world suggests institutions should pay close attention to retractions data.Racial bias eliminated when ratings switch from five stars to thumbs up or down
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00304-y
Implementing a performance-rating system with a two-point scale instead of a five-point scale could be an easy way to temper racial prejudices and tangibly improve income equality for workers from under-represented groups.Exclusive: These universities have the most retracted scientific articles
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00455-y
A first-of-its-kind analysis by Nature reveals which institutions are retraction hotspots.Peptides from abnormal RNA processing in cancer offer an immunotherapy target
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00302-0
Tumour cells often have problems processing messenger RNA. The finding that these splicing errors result in commonly expressed peptides that are recognized by immune cells offers a target for cancer treatments.Cycles
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00519-z
The way of things.How chronic stress warps decision-making
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00502-8
Nerve-cell ‘highways’ identified in mice suggest that stress pushes the brain towards rigid habit and away from thoughtful choices.Racist ratings linger in five-star systems — a thumbs up could fix that
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00529-x
When an online platform changed the way customers rated workers, discrimination disappeared — plus, Nature investigates where the most retractions occur.The secrets of static electricity are finally being revealed
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00298-7
The mechanism that causes static electricity to build up is a mystery. Experiments now reveal that materials ‘remember’ past contacts with each other — and this determines how electric charge is transferred in future contacts.What’s next for the World Health Organization? US exit could reshape agency
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00449-w
US and Argentine departures loom — but strategic reform could strengthen the WHO, say experts.Biggest-ever AI biology model writes DNA on demand
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00531-3
An artificial-intelligence network trained on a vast trove of sequence data is a step towards designing completely new genomes.Key process in sex-cell formation can finally be studied <i>in vitro</i>
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00305-x
The enzyme SPO11 has a crucial role in meiosis, the process that forms sperm and egg cells. The activity of purified SPO11 has now been reconstituted in a cell-free system — enabling the enzyme’s role to be studied in detail.Microsoft builds AI that creates ‘impressive’ video-game worlds
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00508-2
Developers wanted tools that generate gameplay sequences that adhere to game rules; they say an engine called WHAM delivers.Why these scientists devote time to editing and updating Wikipedia
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00244-7
Researchers can recognize a reliable source of information, making them ideal contributors to the free global online encyclopaedia.Newfound bat virus that uses notorious receptor poses ‘spillover’ risk
Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00503-7
The virus is related to the pathogen that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome and capitalizes on the same ‘entry receptor’ used by SARS-CoV-2.Daily briefing: CAR-T-cell therapy recipient nears two decades in cancer remission
Nature, Published online: 18 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00522-4
A woman who received CAR-T-cell therapy has now been in cancer remission for 19 years. Plus, a genetic swap makes mice squeak differently.Vertical structure of an exoplanet’s atmospheric jet stream
Nature, Published online: 18 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08664-1
Vertical structure of an exoplanet’s atmospheric jet streamAuthor Correction: Fetal hepatocytes protect the HSPC genome via fetuin-A
Nature, Published online: 18 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08714-8
Author Correction: Fetal hepatocytes protect the HSPC genome via fetuin-A