Volume 543 Issue 7645

Editorials

News

News Features

News & Views

Distant galaxies lack dark matter p.318

The masses of nearby spiral galaxies are dominated by invisible 'dark matter'. Surprisingly, galaxies in the distant Universe seem to contain comparatively little of it. See Letter p.397

doi: 10.1038/543318a

An improved gel for detached retinas p.319

Surgical repair of a detached retina involves the injection of a gas or silicone oil into the eye to hold the retina in place. The development of a gel with more-desirable properties than these substances might improve the success of this procedure.

doi: 10.1038/nature21898

Bone-derived hormone suppresses appetite p.320

The glycoprotein lipocalin 2 is released from the bones of mice in a nutrient-dependent manner and binds to receptors in the brain to suppress appetite. This is the first example of bone-derived signals mediating hunger. See Article p.385

doi: 10.1038/nature21501

A plan for efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers p.322

A global analysis finds that nitrogen fertilizers could be used more efficiently if their international distribution across croplands was altered — a measure that would also decrease nitrogen pollution.

doi: 10.1038/543322a

Sort and destroy p.324

Aggregates are aberrant, non-functional forms of protein that often build up in cells in response to stress. Organelles called mitochondria have now been found to be active players in the clearance of these protein aggregates. See Letter p.443

doi: 10.1038/nature21892

A hidden competitive advantage of disorder p.325

The cellular response to low oxygen levels is regulated by a process in which one protein is ousted from a binding site by another. It emerges that protein disorder allows the displacement to occur remarkably efficiently. See Letter p.447

doi: 10.1038/nature21893

Perspective

Articles

Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals p.373

Aerial and underwater survey data combined with satellite-derived measurements of sea surface temperature over the past two decades show that multiple mass-bleaching events have expanded to encompass virtually all of the Great Barrier Reef.

doi: 10.1038/nature21707

Integrated genomic and molecular characterization of cervical cancer p.378

This paper describes molecular subtypes of cervical cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma clusters defined by HPV status and molecular features, and distinct molecular pathways that are activated in cervical carcinomas caused by different somatic alterations and HPV types.

doi: 10.1038/nature21386

Letters

Paleoproterozoic sterol biosynthesis and the rise of oxygen p.420

Steranes in ancient rocks have been used as ‘molecular fossils’, but the very earliest records of steranes have been shown to be contaminants; here, the presence of two key sterol biosynthesis enzymes in eukaryotes and bacteria suggests at least one gene transfer between bacteria and the earliest eukaryotes occurred some 2.3 billion years ago.

doi: 10.1038/nature21412