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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Malgorzata E. Rogalska
Editor’s summaryNucleated cells have evolved a complex molecular machinery to remove internal sequences known as introns from the primary RNA transcripts of genes. This splicing process is necessary for the translation of gene messages into proteins and allows the production of alternative mRNAs and proteins from individual genes. After individually lowering the expression of more than 300 genes encoding components of the intron-removing machinery, Rogalska et al.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Shenyang Huang
Editor’s summaryExcitons in semiconductors are charge-neutral quasiparticles formed from electron-hole pairs. Electrical control requires the electrons and holes to be separated to create a dipole. This separation reduces the optical activity, thus rendering them optically dark. Using 90° twisted layers of black phosphorous, Huang et al. demonstrate a new species of exciton that carries a permanent dipole (see the Perspective by Milošević and Covasi).
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Florian Kraft
Editor’s summaryBrain malformation is an abnormal prenatal brain development that is associated with major disabilities, including seizures and cognitive impairments. Kraft et al. performed genome sequencing in individuals with brain malformation and identified mutations in subunits of the core protein-folding machine TRiC (see the Perspective by Sharma).
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Hanxiang Wu
Editor’s summaryElectrocaloric materials can pump heat through a phase transition triggered by an electric field. However, designing devices that maintain a large temperature difference can be challenging. Wu et al. designed a heat pump using layers of a ferroelectric polymer that also changes shape under an electric field. A cascade of several polymer film stacks provides efficient thermal transfer, reaching a temperature differential of 14 K.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Aya Goldshtein
Editor’s summaryInsectivorous bats are well known to use echolocation to catch prey and navigate around obstacles. It has also been shown that more visually guided fruit bats have spatial cognitive maps of their environment. Goldshtein et al. placed minuscule GPS trackers on tiny pipistrelle bats in conjunction with temporary blocks of vision and olfaction. The authors found that the bats could still navigate across kilometer scales using only echolocation.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore
Editor’s summaryHydrogen oxidation to form water on a palladium surface proceeds through cooperative binding of at least three oxygen atoms at step sites to form an active configuration. Velocity-resolved kinetics measurements by Schwarzer et al. revealed a complex dependence on oxygen coverage and step density.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Abimbola Feyisara Adedeji-Olulana
Editor’s summaryThe β-lactam class of antibiotics are the most prescribed drugs worldwide. These molecules kill bacteria by inactivating penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), a group of enzymes responsible for cross-linking bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has acquired resistance to β-lactams through the mecA gene encoding PBP2a, a non-native PBP with low affinity to β-lactams. Adedeji-Olulana et al.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Andy Lau
Editor’s summaryOnly a small fraction of known proteomic space has been studied by experimental protein structure methods. The AlphaFold Protein Structure Database (AFDB) thus represents a truly massive expansion in the landscape of protein structural models. Such a large database represents a major challenge for categorization and analysis. Lau et al. developed an analytical pipeline based on deep learning for sectioning predicted protein structure models into discrete domains and classifying them.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Kwabena Boahen Asare
Africa has seen a notable increase in young women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields over the past two decades. In 2019, the continent boasted the greatest share of female STEM students globally—47% across 49 universities—according to a report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Sadly, much of this talent is underutilized.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
science.org | Jerika J. Barron |Zhenyu Wang |Roberto Arbore |Xiaobo Yin
Tokyo, the most populous city in the world and known for its mild northern climate, reached a record-high temperature of over 35°C in September 2024. Earlier this year, a heat wave swept through South America, with Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, experiencing a staggering heat index of 62.3°C. In May, Delhi, India, saw temperatures soar above 50°C. I recently moved to another densely populated city, Hong Kong, a gateway to mainland China.
