Holly Smith

I had fun writing this N&Vs on two fascinating new papers on centromere evolution in yeast. If you’re interested in how centromeres adapt yet stay functional, here’s my take. rdcu.be/e6DD0 @nature.com @gautamdey.bsky.social @gsherloc.bsky.social @helsenjana.bsky.social @maxhaase.bsky.social

Scraps of viral DNA in biobank samples reveal secrets of Epstein–Barr virus Viral DNA that is usually dismissed when sequencing the human genome could help to uncover useful information about complex diseases.

Viral DNA found in human blood samples is usually ignored. Here it has been cleverly put to use: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Ageing rewires the body’s tolerance to infection In life-threatening sepsis, the same signalling pathway that protects young mice from succumbing to organ dysfunction exacerbates damage and lethality in older animals.

Ageing rewires the body’s tolerance to infection www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I wonder how many could have predicted this finding - AI tools boost individual scientists but could limit research topics

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

🧪

Nationwide genetic screening proves effective at catching disease risk early A study in Australia supports genetic screening in young adults before symptoms show, but the generalizability and cost–benefit ratios need to be examined in other settings.

Nationwide genetic screening proves effective at catching disease risk early www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Dogma-defying signalling through G proteins could lead to better pain relief Unexpected behaviours in G proteins could be exploited to design next-generation opioid drugs that provide stronger, longer-lasting pain relief.

You thought you knew G-protein signalling... new evidence suggests you might need to think again. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

A fantastic N&V giving the rundown of the 4D Nucleome Project, an effort to map the organization of human DNA inside the nucleus.

AI chatbots can persuade voters to change their minds Conversations with AI can sway people’s political views. Concerningly, a chatbot’s facts are not always accurate, especially when it supports right-wing positions.

🤖 AI chatbots can persuade voters 🗳️

@cvargiu.bsky.social and I were recently asked to review a piece for @nature.com, now out, and wrote a short digest about it

TLDR: chatting with a LLM can change your mind, even if facts provided are not always accurate

check it out 👇

#chatbots #persuasion

Nice piece from @hollyasmith.bsky.social on this from @thecowbirdlab.bsky.social et al. in @natecoevo.nature.com

🐦 Did learned vocal signals evolve from innate?
🐦 Authors study this in 21 avian hosts of brood parasites

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics

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Does lithium deficiency contribute to Alzheimer’s disease? Lithium in the brain has been found to protect against cognitive decline. Restoring lost lithium could be a new angle from which to tackle Alzheimer’s disease.

Amyloid plaques in the brain capture lithium from surrounding cells, contributing to cognitive decline. What is lithium's role in the brain normally, and could lithium supplements help to treat Alzheimer's disease? Plenty of questions sparked by research in Nature. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Thanks to @nature.com for inviting Todd Rogers and I to talk about our favorite topic: writing/speaking to engage!

Below we comment on a recent article that found:
- if you want people to mindlessly agree - use jargon
- if you want people to actually understand - speak simply

Scientific jargon can be ‘satisfying’ — but misleading Research shows that jargon can make weak explanations feel complete by masking their gaps. What can experts do to communicate science effectively to laypeople?

I loved hearing what Todd Rogers and Hillary Shulman had to say about what experts can do to communicate science effectively. Although jargon can be helpful, clarity should be the priority! @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Boys surpass girls in maths in the first year of school A gender gap in mathematical ability arises shortly after children begin school — irrespective of the type of school they attend and their socio-economic background.

Understanding the origin of gender gaps in #STEM subjects is a crucial step in reducing them, because it informs education-policy practitioners about when to intervene. Read the News & Views on the maths #gendergap at @nature.com: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Genus-wide plant pangenome could inform next-generation crop design A pangenome for the genus Solanum.

Genus-wide plant pangenome could help blend the best aspects of productive staple crops & genetically diverse but under-studied indigenous crops
🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Designer cannabinoids could be the key to pain relief without adverse effects A modified CB1-receptor agonist for analgesia without adverse effects.

Current approaches to pain relief are falling short. Chemically modifying a synthetic cannabinoid could enable scientists to capitalize on the body’s natural pain-killing pathway without evoking drug tolerance or psychoactivity
🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Interested in a nudge that can reduce the expression of racial bias in performance evaluations? In the March issue of @nature.com, I cover excellent new work by @tristanbotelho.bsky.social, Sora Jun, Demetrius Humes, and
@decelles.bsky.social. Links below:
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...

Does a cell’s gene expression always reflect its function? Transcriptionally similar neurons can be functionally diverse.

Defining a cell’s ‘type’ by the RNA transcripts it expresses is popular in biological research. But does transcriptomics always do a good job of capturing a cell's function? Read the discussion here @nature.com ⬇️

Genetic and geographical origins of Eurasia’s influential Yamna culture Ancient genomes from Ukraine and Russia reveal Yamna origins.

Ancient genomes from modern Ukraine and Russia reveal the origins of the Yamna people, pastoralists who migrated from the Eurasian steppe to Europe 5,000 years ago, spreading their ancestry, culture and, probably, language.

The Greenland Ice Sheet is fracturing faster than expected Cracks in Greenland's glaciers deepened by climate change.

Maps of glacier surfaces across Greenland reveal that cracks are growing rapidly where land ice meets the sea — and climate change is to blame.