- High extinction risk for wild coffee species and implications for coffee sector sustainability
Extinction threatens at least 60% of wild coffee species, including those that are key to the future of the global coffee sector.
- Deterministic splicing of Dscam2 is regulated by Muscleblind
Alternative splicing of Drosophila Dscam2 is regulated by cell type–specific expression of the RNA binding protein Muscleblind.
- Acclimation of methane emissions from rice paddy fields to straw addition
The effects of straw incorporation on CH4 emissions from rice fields decrease over time, due to increased CH4 consumption in soil.
- Full in vivo characterization of carbonate chemistry at the site of calcification in corals
In vivo measurements of [Ca2+] and [CO32−] indicate biological control of carbonate chemistry at site of calcification in corals.
- Engineered botulinum neurotoxin B with improved binding to human receptors has enhanced efficacy in preclinical models
We report the preclinical characterization of two engineered botulinum neurotoxin serotype B proteins with significant therapeutic potential.
- Bacteria: A novel source for potent mosquito feeding-deterrents
This study provides evidence that insect-killing bacteria produce fabclavines that can be used to deter mosquito feeding.
- First systematic assessment of dental growth and development in an archaic hominin (genus, Homo) from East Asia
An archaic Homo juvenile from the East Asian Middle-Late Pleistocene transition has surprisingly modern dental development.
- High-throughput label-free molecular fingerprinting flow cytometry
High-throughput Raman flow cytometry is developed to rapidly probe molecular fingerprints of numerous cells without labels.
- Universal scaling across biochemical networks on Earth
Studying biochemical networks at a planetary scale reveals a deeper level of organization than what has been understood so far.
- Standards for distribution models in biodiversity assessments
Biodiversity assessments use a variety of data and models. We propose best-practice standards for studies in these assessments.
- Twentieth century redistribution in climatic drivers of global tree growth
Water availability and demand are becoming the dominant limitations of tree growth across the boreal and temperate zones.
- Scaling of bird wings and feathers for efficient flight
Why and how do birds as small as a hummingbird and as large as a condor fly? Research reveals new secrets.
- Li substituent tuning of LED phosphors with enhanced efficiency, tunable photoluminescence, and improved thermal stability
A codoping strategy is advanced to improve luminescence efficiency, emission color tuning, and thermal stability of LED phosphors.
- Real-time tracking of fluorescent magnetic spore–based microrobots for remote detection of C. diff toxins
We report fluorescent magnetic spore–based microrobots for remote sensing of C. diff toxins in clinical stool supernatants.
About The Cover
ONLINE COVER To determine how North Africa's climate has evolved over the past millions of years, experts have studied dust flux records from marine sediments. These long-term records are based largely on fluxes calculated using age model-based mass accumulation rates (MARs). However, this method suffers from many potential biases, including limited resolution. The paleoclimate community has recently diverted from the MAR approach and has started to use constant flux proxies, such as excess 230Th from seawater that can be used to determine sediment accumulation rates. Relying on 230Th from marine sediment cores to more reliably calculate fluxes, Skonieczny et al. present the first Saharan dust record than spans many glacial cycles. They discovered that in the Sahara Desert, dust emissions over the last 240,000 years have varied in accordance with Northern Hemisphere summer monsoons rather than glacial-interglacial changes as had been previously assumed. These results question the use of existing Pleistocene dust records to examine the connections between climate and hominid evolution. CREDIT: GIDEON MENDEL/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES