News & Comment

Plant nitrogen source in the soil is challenging to track. Compiling the most comprehensive global δ¹⁵N dataset, a new study shows the plant use of various available soil nitrogen forms (ammonium, nitrate, and organic nitrogen) is strongly controlled by temperature.

Liang et al. present an industrial perspective on the evolving landscape of laser technology used in advanced LiDAR systems. The authors discuss recent trends, practical considerations within the industry, current challenges, and potential solutions, explicitly focusing on VCSEL/AR-VCSEL-based technologies and their strong potential for commercial LiDAR applications.

Neuronal activity consumes cellular energy and generates carbon dioxide (CO₂). To counter this metabolic challenge, synaptic signalling communicates with nearby microvasculature to increase local blood flow. Is this process solely based on feedforward synaptic signalling, or is the generated CO₂ also involved? This question was addressed in mice in a new Nature Communications publication by Tournissac and colleagues where they showed that neurovascular coupling is not affected by exogenous CO₂ or its associated acidification.

This manuscript proposes the Responsibility to Defend Earth (R2DE) as a core principle for planetary defense, aiming to foster international cooperation and policy changes. Despite technical advancements and creation of bodies like IAWN and SMPAG, it highlights the need for consensus on action and means.

The growing number of threats facing continental-scale transboundary water treaties warrants contemporary evaluation of not only the political and climatological conditions under which they were constructed, but also of how different management strategies for accommodating changes in those conditions can lead to treaty success or failure. We assess these threats by highlighting key attributes and vulnerabilities of water treaties across North America that frame a diverse set of future water management priorities. While these threats are ubiquitous globally, they are particularly pronounced in North America where water-abundant basins along the border between the United States (US) and Canada contrast with arid basins along the border between the US and Mexico. We propose addressing these needs through a three-step call to action for management agencies, politicians, and the public at large to embrace a holistic perspective on transboundary water agreements.

Clinical trial statistics underlie the central decision-making process for whether a therapeutic approach can enter the clinic, but the nuances of this field may not be widely understood. Furthermore, how the statistics used in clinical trials differ from preclinical approaches and why they differ is not always clear. Here, three experts discuss the intricacies of clinical trial statistical planning and analysis as well as common issues that arise and emerging trends. The experts are Dr Tao Chen (Senior lecturer in Biostatistics at the Liverpool School of Tropical medicine), Professor Li Chao (Professor in Biostatistics at Xi’an Jiaotong University) and Professor Yang Wang (Professor in Biostatistics at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College). They have a diverse range of backgrounds across biostatistics and have been involved in numerous clinical trials of varying types.

Recent advances in virtual reality technologies accelerate the immersive interaction between human and augmented 3D virtual worlds. Here, the authors discuss olfactory feedback technologies that facilitate interaction with real and virtual objects and the evolution of wearable devices for immersive VR/AR applications.

Data is the bedrock of scientific progress. At Nature Communications we have been making it easier for authors to share their source data by integrating both data and code sharing capabilities into our manuscript tracking system.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) no longer respond to antimicrobials, rendering these specific treatments ineffective. Subsequently, this narrows the options for clinical treatment and increases the risk of complications, hospital admissions, and mortality rates. Ultimately, infections become more difficult to treat. The concern of AMR is not new, yet the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted this global burden and raised questions regarding the preparedness for the fight against increasing cases of AMR. In a joint collaboration, Nature Communications, Nature Microbiology, Nature Medicine, Communications Medicine and Scientific Reports have launched a Collection and call for papers, inviting submissions of papers that advance our understanding of all aspects of AMR, as outlined in the Collection scope.

Neurotechnology is becoming an integral part of clinical practice. In this Comment, the authors advocate for more scrutiny and attention when describing new neurotechnologies with particular attention to the surgical risks involved and the invasiveness.

Yeast is a widely used cell factory for the conversion of sugar into fuels, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Establishing yeast as being autotrophic can enable it to grow solely on CO₂ and light, and hereby yeast can be used as a wider platform for transition to a sustainable society.

Solution processable perovskites are revolutionising the research field of direct X-ray detectors. Here, the authors discuss the opportunities, challenges, and research strategies for perovskite planar X-ray detectors.

DNA catalysts, known as DNAzymes, have arguably been limited for decades by the lack of mechanistic information. The solution structure of the 8–17 DNAzyme reported by Wieruszekska, Pwlowicz et al. reassesses the current thinking regarding the relationship between structure, dynamic, and metal ion coordination.

Surface observations suggest that carbon may exist in Mercury’s interior. Under planetary mantle pressures and temperatures, carbon may be present as a stable diamond layer which may have important implications for the physical and chemical properties of Mercury.

Atmospheric entry of asteroids or comets can cause significant damage to Earth. Two international bodies, the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) are working on dealing with potential threats.

Global climate policy has increasingly acknowledged the specific contributions of Indigenous Peoples. The outcome of COP 28, however, demonstrates that this acknowledgement has not shifted the conceptual foundations of dominant climate solutions, nor has it created space for Indigenous Peoples to effectively contribute. Drawing on our expertise as Indigenous scholars and practitioners, we offer four recommendations to shift climate policy and research away from these foundations towards reciprocal relationships with the natural world – strengthening it for future generations.

The curse of rarity—the rarity of safety-critical events in high-dimensional variable spaces—presents significant challenges in ensuring the safety of autonomous vehicles using deep learning. Looking at it from distinct perspectives, the authors identify three potential approaches for addressing the issue.

Vaccines and clean water shortages continue to give rise to cholera outbreaks in Africa. Coordinated efforts to increase vaccine distribution and improve physical infrastructure are needed while considering future outbreaks and water demands due to conflicts and climate events.