Neuroscientists make strides towards deciphering the human brain p.7

Early findings from the BRAIN Initiative are exciting, but researchers still have a way to go in their quest to understand the entire human brain.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02660-x

Illegal mining in the Amazon hits record high amid Indigenous protests p.15

Satellite data confirm incursions on protected lands as Indigenous people fight for their rights — and recognition of their role in conserving forests.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02644-x

High-profile autism genetics project paused amid backlash p.17

Study aimed at collecting DNA from 10,000 autistic people and their families has drawn criticism for failing to consult the autism community.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02602-7

University under pressure to rehire scientist acquitted of hiding China links p.18

Faculty members at the University of Tennessee Knoxville are demanding that nanotechnologist Anming Hu get his job back.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02603-6

China’s clampdown on fake-paper factories picks up speed p.19

As part of a misconduct crackdown, Chinese funders are penalizing researchers who commission sham journal articles from ‘paper mills’, but some say the measures still don’t go far enough.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02587-3

China’s pledge on overseas coal — by the numbers p.20

China’s promise to stop financing coal power abroad is a positive step, but researchers say the emissions savings pale in comparison to those from its domestic coal use.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02645-w

This is what a solid made of electrons looks like p.21

Physicists have imaged elusive ‘Wigner crystals’ for the first time.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02657-6

How the world’s biggest brain maps could transform neuroscience p.22

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02661-w

A census of cell types in the brain’s motor cortex p.33

An atlas of the cell types found in the motor cortex of the brain has been built using various types of data. Two neuroscientists explain the technological feats involved in the project, as well as the utility of the resource for future research.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02493-8

Delayed global warming could reduce human exposure to cyclones p.34

Rising temperatures are expected to increase the number of people exposed to tropical cyclones, but timing might prove crucial to the success of mitigation strategies.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02659-4

Platinum catalysts strained controllably by size-changing nanocubes p.35

The distance between the surface atoms of noble metals, such as platinum, affects the catalytic activity of these elements. An experimental approach using nanoparticles enables this effect to be systematically controlled and measured.

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02640-1

Tumours block protective muscle and nerve signals to cause cachexia p.37

Certain cancers cause people to weaken and waste away. A mouse model of this points to tumour-induced blockade of molecules that normally protect muscle innervation and mass. Will the discovery lead to therapies for this deadly condition?

doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02492-9

Mechanical computing p.39

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03623-y

Fine-regolith production on asteroids controlled by rock porosity p.49

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03816-5

Quantum anomalous Hall octet driven by orbital magnetism in bilayer graphene p.53

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03849-w

Topological complex-energy braiding of non-Hermitian bands p.59

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03848-x

Colorimetric histology using plasmonically active microscope slides p.65

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03835-2

A crystalline tri-thorium cluster with σ-aromatic metal–metal bonding p.72

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03888-3

Mastering the surface strain of platinum catalysts for efficient electrocatalysis p.76

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03870-z

Hemispheric black carbon increase after the 13th-century Māori arrival in New Zealand p.82

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03858-9

A multimodal cell census and atlas of the mammalian primary motor cortex p.86

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03950-0

A transcriptomic and epigenomic cell atlas of the mouse primary motor cortex p.103

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03500-8

Comparative cellular analysis of motor cortex in human, marmoset and mouse p.111

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03465-8

DNA methylation atlas of the mouse brain at single-cell resolution p.120

doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-03182-8

An atlas of gene regulatory elements in adult mouse cerebrum p.129

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03604-1

Spatially resolved cell atlas of the mouse primary motor cortex by MERFISH p.137

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03705-x

Phenotypic variation of transcriptomic cell types in mouse motor cortex p.144

doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2907-3

Human neocortical expansion involves glutamatergic neuron diversification p.151

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03813-8

Cellular anatomy of the mouse primary motor cortex p.159

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03970-w

Epigenomic diversity of cortical projection neurons in the mouse brain p.167

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03223-w

Morphological diversity of single neurons in molecularly defined cell types p.174

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03941-1

Genetic dissection of the glutamatergic neuron system in cerebral cortex p.182

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03955-9

The mouse cortico–basal ganglia–thalamic network p.188

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03993-3

Isoform cell-type specificity in the mouse primary motor cortex p.195

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03969-3

An atlas of cortical arealization identifies dynamic molecular signatures p.200

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03910-8

Single-cell epigenomics reveals mechanisms of human cortical development p.205

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03209-8

A transcriptomic atlas of mouse cerebellar cortex comprehensively defines cell types p.214

doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03220-z