We boldly chat with 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' showrunners about space dinosaurs and Lovecraftian horrors for season 4 (interview)
'The minute we started talking about doing dinosaurs, we were like, 'Yeah, let’s figure out a way to do that.''
Science
Research, discovery, and the natural world.
Scientists discover a compound that could supercharge aging muscle repair
A sulfur-based compound called LASSS appears to protect and supercharge a key protein involved in repairing damaged muscle. The discovery could eventually lead to new ways to slow muscle loss and preserve strength as people age.
A new antiviral could stop measles before an outbreak takes off
An experimental pill prevented a measles-like virus from spreading through the air or through close contact in ferrets. It worked when given shortly before or after exposure and also shortened illness and the period when infected animals remained contagious. Researchers say the drug could one day complement vaccination and make outbreaks easier to contain.
The billion-dollar problem keeping Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound from patients
Ozempic, Wegovy, and similar drugs may deliver excellent health value, but covering them for millions of eligible patients could overwhelm insurance budgets. Researchers say better long-term support is needed and warn that low-cost compounded versions may carry serious safety risks.
Venus may be tearing itself apart from within
Scientists have uncovered new evidence that Venus may still be tearing itself apart from within. Advanced 3D simulations indicate that some of the planet's giant rift valleys formed relatively recently and could still be expanding. The results suggest Venus has a far more active interior than researchers once believed, challenging the long-held view of a geologically dormant world.
Sweden’s hidden rare earth deposits could help break China’s grip
Sweden could become an important source of rare earth elements needed for magnets and green technologies. Instead of extracting one target metal, researchers are cataloging everything contained in Swedish mineral deposits. They will then develop magnets using those naturally available combinations, potentially reducing pollution, waste, and reliance on China.
China’s Tianwen-1 captures interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS near Mars
China’s Tianwen-1 orbiter captured a faint but remarkable view of 3I/ATLAS as the interstellar comet raced past Mars. The images reveal its tail and glowing coma, offering scientists a glimpse of material born beyond our solar system.
Ancient ape fossil in Egypt challenges the story of human origins
A newly identified fossil ape from northern Egypt is reshaping ideas about where the ancestors of modern apes first emerged. Analyses place it closer to living apes than any known East African species of the same age, pointing to North Africa and the Middle East as a possible birthplace and crossroads for the ape lineage that eventually produced gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans.
APOE2 may protect the brain from Alzheimer’s and aging
The longevity-linked APOE2 gene appears to protect brain cells by reducing DNA damage and helping neurons recover from stress. The finding could open a new path toward treatments that mimic APOE2’s defenses in people at higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s.
Ozempic and Mounjaro linked to a surprising hair loss risk
A large study suggests that GLP-1 drugs including Ozempic and Mounjaro may slightly increase the risk of hair loss in people with type 2 diabetes. Compared with two other common classes of diabetes medications, GLP-1 users had a significantly higher rate of alopecia, though the absolute risk was still low. The hair loss was mainly non-scarring, which means it may be reversible.
First mission to fly through monstrous ‘fire clouds’ is about to take off
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02351-5The towering formations appearing over severe wildfires in France and Oregon loft smoke so high they have global consequences.
Daily briefing: Why all living cells emit a faint glow
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02363-1The emission of ‘biophotons’ could be a cell’s way of communicating with its neighbours. Plus, a ‘timer’ in the brain that tracks sleep and who is accountable when physicians and AI work together.
First volunteer gets Ebola vaccine — three months after the outbreak began
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02278-xThe University of Oxford has already vaccinated its first clinical-trial participant. The study’s lead scientist, Teresa Lambe, tells Nature how the team was able to move so fast.
When physicians and AI work together, who is accountable? How to lay out medical liability
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02315-9A staging system based on how big a role AI has in patient care can help to identify who is responsible in cases in which care fails.
Skin cancer spreads between catfish in a freshwater lake
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02287-wThe discovery of a transmissible melanoma in a freshwater catfish raises questions about the disease’s origin, mode of transmission and broader impact on the species.
Fertility clinics are offering young mitochondria in controversial fertility technique
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01935-5Researchers are alarmed that the procedure, which has not been rigorously studied, is being advertised by clinics around the world.
Conversational AI: align commercial incentives with public interests
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02348-0Conversational AI: align commercial incentives with public interests
Wildfires rampaged across Europe in the dying days of the Triassic
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02333-7Infernos ravaged continental expanses of ferns during mass extinction of land and sea animals.
Why some wool is wavy
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02104-4How crimps form in the coats of sheep, and the history of the word ‘ionosphere’, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.
Use AI, but don’t mask it
Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02347-1Use AI, but don’t mask it