Natural Disasters
Tonga Volcano Eruption Created Puzzling Ripples in Earth’s Atmosphere
Powerful waves ringing through the atmosphere after the eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai are unlike anything seen before
Stories by Nature magazine
Astronomy
Landmark Webb Observatory Is Now Officially a Telescope
The observatory has flawlessly unfurled its mirrors and sunshield—although more steps are needed before the science can begin
Medicine
Genetic Therapies for Brain Diseases
Hopes are high for a class of drug that could treat neurodegenerative conditions—but a recent clinical trial has brought the field up short
Behavior
How COVID Is Changing the Study of Human Behavior
The pandemic is teaching us key lessons about how people respond to crisis and misinformation, and it is spurring changes in the way scientists study public health questions
Evolution
How Did Neanderthals and Other Ancient Humans Learn to Count?
Archaeological finds suggest that people developed numbers tens of thousands of years ago. Scholars are now exploring the first detailed hypotheses about this life-changing invention
Public Health
How Severe Are Omicron Infections?
A rapidly spreading variant could dangerously strain health-care systems, even if the severe disease risk is relatively low for an individual
Astrophysics
NASA Spacecraft ‘Touches’ the Sun for the First Time Ever
The Parker Solar Probe has passed through a boundary and into the Sun’s atmosphere, gathering data that will help scientists better understand stars
Vaccines
Omicron Is Likely to Weaken COVID Vaccine Protection—but Boosters Could Restore It
The rapid spread of new variants such as Omicron offers clues to how SARS-CoV-2 is adapting and how the pandemic will play out over the next several months
Public Health
COVID Variants Hint at How the Virus Will Evolve
The rapid spread of new variants such as Omicron offers clues to how SARS-CoV-2 is adapting and how the pandemic will play out over the next several months
Epidemiology
Heavily Mutated Omicron Variant Puts Scientists on Alert
Researchers are racing to determine whether a fast-spreading coronavirus variant poses a threat to COVID vaccines’ effectiveness
Epidemiology
Do Childhood Colds Help the Body Respond to COVID?
A mechanism known as “original antigenic sin” protects some people from flu. Whether it helps immune reactions to coronaviruses is still unclear
Politics
New FDA Chief Will Face COVID Woes and Calls for Drug-Approval Reform
After long delay, U.S. President Joe Biden picks Robert Califf to once again head the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Climate Change
‘COP26 Hasn’t Solved the Problem’: Scientists React to U.N. Climate Deal
The Glasgow Climate Pact is a step forward, researchers say, but efforts to decarbonize are not enough to limit global temperature rises to two degrees Celsius
Public Health
How Do People Resist COVID Infections?
Immune cells might abort SARS-CoV-2 infection, forestalling a positive PCR or antibody test, a study in hospital workers suggests
Climate Change
COP Architects Furious at Lack of Climate Justice at Pivotal Summit
Scientists who worked on the original U.N. climate convention doubt that COP26 will deliver for low-income countries
Astrophysics
Astrophysicists Unveil Glut of Gravitational-Wave Detections
The latest bounty of 35 events features oddball black holes and a miniature neutron star
Evolution
Sponge Cells Hint at Origins of Nervous System
Synapse genes help cells to communicate in a sponge’s digestive chambers
Climate Change
COP26 Climate Pledges: What Scientists Think So Far
Nations have promised to end deforestation, curb methane emissions and stop public investment in coal power. Researchers warn that the real work of COP26 is yet to come
Climate Change
Top Climate Scientists Are Skeptical That Nations Will Rein in Global Warming
A Nature survey reveals that many authors of the latest IPCC climate science report are anxious about the future and expect to see catastrophic changes in their lifetime
Vaccines
Common Antidepressant Slashes Risk of COVID Death
Fluvoxamine is both inexpensive and highly effective at preventing mild COVID-19 from turning severe
