Nature at 150: evidence in pursuit of truth p.7

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03304-x

California biologists are using wildfires to assess health risks of smoke p.15

As fires rage in the Bay Area, scientists launch study to track long-term effects of smoke on the heart, lungs and immune system.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03345-2

California wildfires and power outages cause disruptions for scientists p.16

Blackouts and blazes prompt university closures and uncertainty about when life can return to normal.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03302-z

Primate embryos grown in the lab for longer than ever before p.17

The 20-day-old monkey embryos could reopen the debate about how long the human variety should be allowed to grow in a dish.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03326-5

Genomes trace origins of enslaved people who died on remote island p.18

Former slaves left on St Helena were probably taken from west-central Africa, finds genome study.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03152-9

Rooibos tea profits will be shared with Indigenous communities in landmark agreement p.19

The San and Khoi communities welcome the decision, which could have implications for other Indigenous groups — and biodiversity researchers.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03374-x

150 years of Nature: a data graphic charts our evolution p.22

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03305-w

The structure of DNA p.35

In the early 1950s, the identity of genetic material was still a matter of debate. The discovery of the helical structure of double-stranded DNA settled the matter — and changed biology forever.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02554-z

Detection of a strange particle p.36

In 1947, scientists found a previously unseen particle, which is now called a neutral kaon. This work led to the discovery of elementary particles known as quarks, and ultimately to the establishment of the standard model of particle physics.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02841-9

A breakthrough method that became vital to neuroscience p.38

Originally developed to record currents of ions flowing through channel proteins in the membranes of cells, the patch-clamp technique has become a true stalwart of the neuroscience toolbox.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02836-6

Birth of a class of nanomaterial p.40

Nearly 30 years ago, a simple chemical principle was reported that enabled the synthesis of a plethora of porous materials — some of which might enable applications ranging from biomedicine to petrochemical processing.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02835-7

How Australopithecus provided insight into human evolution p.41

In 1925, a Nature paper reported an African fossil of a previously unknown genus called Australopithecus. This finding revolutionized ideas about early human evolution after human ancestors and apes split on the evolutionary tree.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02839-3

First exoplanet found around a Sun-like star p.43

In 1995, astronomers detected a blisteringly hot Jupiter-mass planet orbiting closer to its host star than Mercury is to the Sun. This discovery recast our thinking of how planets form and led to a new era of exoplanetary exploration.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02553-0

Cell identity reprogrammed p.44

The discovery that cell differentiation can be reversed challenged theories of how cell identity is determined, laying the foundations for modern methods of reprogramming cell identity and promising new regenerative therapies.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02834-8

The discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole p.46

The unexpected discovery of a hole in the atmospheric ozone layer over the Antarctic revolutionized science — and helped to establish one of the most successful global environmental policies of the twentieth century.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02837-5

The advent and rise of monoclonal antibodies p.47

A 1975 Nature paper reported how cell lines could be made that produce an antibody of known specificity. This discovery led to major biological insights and clinical successes in treating autoimmunity and cancer.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02840-w

The nano-revolution spawned by carbon p.49

In 1985, scientists reported the discovery of the cage-like carbon molecule C60. The finding paved the way for materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, and was a landmark in the emergence of nanotechnology.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-02838-4

Strategy to selectively remove mutant proteins could combat neurodegeneration p.57

Compounds have been found that reduce levels of the harmful protein present in Huntington’s disease, without affecting the normal version. The compounds interact with the mutated protein and the cell’s protein-clearance machinery.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03243-7

Soft microbots programmed by nanomagnets p.58

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03363-0

Huge whole-genome study of human metastatic cancers p.60

A better understanding of the genetic changes that enable cancers to spread is crucial. A comprehensive study of whole-genome sequences from metastatic cancer will help researchers to achieve this goal.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03123-0

Progress on the proton-radius puzzle p.61

doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03364-z

A small proton charge radius from an electron–proton scattering experiment p.147

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1721-2

Carrier-resolved photo-Hall effect p.151

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1632-2

High-temperature superconductivity in monolayer Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ p.156

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1718-x

Nanomagnetic encoding of shape-morphing micromachines p.164

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1713-2

Dry double-sided tape for adhesion of wet tissues and devices p.169

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1710-5

Seeing mesoatomic distortions in soft-matter crystals of a double-gyroid block copolymer p.175

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1706-1

California’s methane super-emitters p.180

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1720-3

Human origins in a southern African palaeo-wetland and first migrations p.185

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1714-1

Quantifying the dynamics of failure across science, startups and security p.190

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1725-y

Hierarchical organization of cortical and thalamic connectivity p.195

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1716-z

Allele-selective lowering of mutant HTT protein by HTT–LC3 linker compounds p.203

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1722-1

Pan-cancer whole-genome analyses of metastatic solid tumours p.210

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1689-y

The clinical KRAS(G12C) inhibitor AMG 510 drives anti-tumour immunity p.217

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1694-1

Human gut bacteria contain acquired interbacterial defence systems p.224

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1708-z

Altered chromosomal topology drives oncogenic programs in SDH-deficient GISTs p.229

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1668-3

Structure of the Fanconi anaemia monoubiquitin ligase complex p.234

doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1703-4