The world must cooperate to avoid a catastrophic space collision p.163

Governments and companies urgently need to share data on the mounting volume of satellites and debris orbiting Earth.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02167-5

IPCC climate report: Earth is warmer than it’s been in 125,000 years p.171

Landmark assessment says that greenhouse gases are unequivocally driving extreme weather — but that nations can still prevent the worst impacts.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02179-1

Flawed ivermectin preprint highlights challenges of COVID drug studies p.173

The study’s withdrawal from a preprint platform deals a blow to the anti-parasite drug’s chances as a COVID treatment, researchers say.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02081-w

After Trump, US researchers urge Biden to block political meddling in science p.174

White House science office is expected to deliver a review of US scientific-integrity policies next month.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02132-2

Surprise dip in UK COVID cases baffles researchers p.175

Daily recorded infections have more than halved since mid-July. Few researchers anticipated such a sharp decline, and they are now struggling to interpret it.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02125-1

More women than ever are starting careers in science p.177

But a study of the publications of millions of researchers also suggests that women are less likely to continue their academic careers than their male counterparts.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02147-9

COVID vaccine boosters: the most important questions p.178

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02158-6

Protein pile-up plays havoc in ageing nematode worms p.191

An analysis in ageing nematode worms reveals reductions in the tagging of certain proteins for clearance. This can lead to the accumulation of unnecessary proteins, in turn impairing cellular and tissue function.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02009-4

How the amino acid leucine activates the key cell-growth regulator mTOR p.192

Cells can tailor their growth to current conditions by sensing nutrients. The protein complex mTORC1 enables cell growth to be coordinated with the level of certain amino acids, and how it senses the amino acid leucine has now become clearer.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-01943-7

A microscopy technique that images single reaction events in total darkness p.194

Single photons emitted from individual electrochemically excited molecules in solution can now be detected. The technique can be used to image cells at nanometre resolution, without using an external light source.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02098-1

Chain-mail fabric stiffens under confining pressure p.196

The mechanical properties of chain mail have been revisited. The findings reveal that, under confining pressure, chain-mail-inspired materials can switch from pliable to stiff structures that have outstanding load-bearing capacities.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02116-2

Deep continental roots and cratons p.199

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03600-5

Exploring tissue architecture using spatial transcriptomics p.211

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03634-9

Demonstration of reduced neoclassical energy transport in Wendelstein 7-X p.221

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03687-w

Evidence for an atomic chiral superfluid with topological excitations p.227

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03702-0

Actively variable-spectrum optoelectronics with black phosphorus p.232

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03701-1

Structured fabrics with tunable mechanical properties p.238

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03698-7

Direct imaging of single-molecule electrochemical reactions in solution p.244

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03715-9

Photoinduced copper-catalysed asymmetric amidation via ligand cooperativity p.250

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03730-w

Connectomes across development reveal principles of brain maturation p.257

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03778-8

Microbes exploit death-induced nutrient release by gut epithelial cells p.262

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03785-9

Immunogenicity of Ad26.COV2.S vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants in humans p.268

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03681-2

BNT162b2-elicited neutralization of B.1.617 and other SARS-CoV-2 variants p.273

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03693-y

Reduced sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta to antibody neutralization p.276

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03777-9

SAR1B senses leucine levels to regulate mTORC1 signalling p.281

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03768-w

Rewiring of the ubiquitinated proteome determines ageing in C. elegans p.285

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03781-z

Regulated control of gene therapies by drug-induced splicing p.291

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03770-2

Structural insights into how Prp5 proofreads the pre-mRNA branch site p.296

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03789-5

Structural basis of ketamine action on human NMDA receptors p.301

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03769-9