Stories by Nature magazine

Hints of a previously unknown, primordial form of the substance could explain why the cosmos now seems to be expanding faster than theory predicts

The risk of severe disease dropped by factor of almost 20 in people over 60—but some dispute the benefits of offering an additional dose

The 2019–20 wildfires generated 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide—but a lot of that might have been mopped up by phytoplankton in the ocean

Innate immunity might be the key to why children have fared better with the virus. But the Delta variant poses fresh unknowns

Pioneers of mRNA vaccines and next-generation sequencing techniques are among the winners of science’s most lucrative awards

The mission is living up to its name, drilling and storing a Martian rock after a misstep in August

Self-targeting antibodies attack part of the immune system that plays a key role in fighting infection

Reprisals may come for their field of study, their ethnicity or involvement in international collaborations

Racist ideas of categories for human identity continue to warp research and medicine

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

A volunteer network helps to monitor aftershocks and illuminate the country’s earthquake hazards

The rare tetraquark is one of dozens of nonelementary particles discovered at the accelerator and could help test theories about the strong nuclear force

A landmark assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change says greenhouse gases are unequivocally driving extreme weather, but nations can still prevent the worst impacts

The first assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change in eight years will sound the alarm on soaring temperatures and other effects of unchecked carbon pollution

The spaceborne studies will cover diverse topics, from dark matter and gravitational waves to the growth of cancer and pathogenic bacteria

Some astronomers argue the space agency’s next flagship observatory will memorialize discrimination. Others are waiting for more evidence

Viral load is roughly 1,000 times higher in people infected with the Delta variant than those infected with the original coronavirus strain, according to a study in China

With vaccination campaigns underway in some countries while others weigh the options, Nature looks at the evidence for vaccinating younger people

Experts welcome the trading scheme, but question whether it is up to the task of helping China achieve its climate goals

Researchers say they have discovered unique and exciting DNA strands in the mud; others are not sure of their novelty

Children can suffer lingering symptoms from the disease, but researchers are still working to determine how frequently and how severely

Using machine learning, researchers created a tool that might help doctors improve people’s healthy lifespan

Studies suggest mixing vaccines provokes potent immune responses, but scientists want answers on real-world efficacy and rare side effects

At a pivotal moment in the pandemic, Nature explores key questions about the vaccines that countries are racing to deliver while viral variants spread around the globe