Nature, Published online: 15 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11263-3
Nearly half of reef-building corals face elevated relative risk of extinctionNature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11138-7
Machine-learning-enabled atomistic simulations, spectroscopy, electrochemical data and quantum-chemical calculations reveal previously unstudied multi-lithium-ion complexes without bound anions, improving understanding of lithium-ion-battery functionality at the atomic level.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11157-4
A globally representative sample of 25 countries and territories indicates that conservation areas cover 26.81% of the land, much closer to the 30% by 2030 target than officially reported.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11117-y
Scanning tunnelling spectroscopy shows that the fractional spin-1/2 end states of molecular Haldane chains couple differently to a superconducting condensate depending on whether the chain contains an even or odd number of spin-1 triangulene units.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11143-w
De novo-designed enzymes use an activated cysteine nucleophile to hydrolyse polypeptide backbones in a sequence-dependent manner.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11150-x
Longitudinal genomic analyses in patients with astrocytoma or oligodendrioglioma suggest that these two types of tumour differ in the mechanisms by which they become resistant to treatment, with astrocytomas accumulating copy-number alterations and chromosomal instability markers but oligodendrogliomas acquiring new driver mutations.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11136-9
DFT investigations combined with spectroscopic and catalytic studies of disrupted subnanometric Rh2O3 clusters show that Rh+ centres in a zeolite-based catalyst are blocked with N-containing molecules, whereas Rh3+ sites are stabilized, allowing hydroformylation reactions with enhanced regioselectivity and efficiency.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11174-3
Optogenetic stimulation of motor-cortex neuron ensembles shows that precisely timed activity in the primary motor cortex can generate learned neural patterns and movements, demonstrating an active role in skilled motor control.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11162-7
Artificial intelligence-enabled quantification and analyses of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity uncover links between BAT and a healthier metabolic profile along with lower rates of psychiatric disease, and can identify pharmacologic agents that could be repurposed to activate this tissue in humans.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11163-6
Wave coarsening in active elastic media is a phenomenon in which vibrations spontaneously increase in wavelength, period and amplitude before forming a globally synchronized time crystal.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11159-2
Long-term live imaging of adult mouse ear skin reveals sex-specific differences in the clonal dynamics of epidermal stem cells and transit-amplifying cells during homeostasis.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11119-w
A regulatory sequence code for neuronal microexons reveals genetic variants predicted to alter their splicing in individuals with autism.Nature, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11126-x
The AI framework probabilistic bias correction is shown to correct weather forecast errors 2 to 6 weeks ahead and boost forecast skill, making it promising for improved extreme-weather prediction.Nature, Published online: 13 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11255-3
Selective, Catalytic Oxidation of Polyethylene Surfaces
Nature Geoscience, Published online: 12 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41561-026-02125-8
The Western Eurasian Steppe has undergone an abrupt and persistent transition to a hotter and drier summer climate that exceeds the range of natural variability, driven by external climate forcing and amplified by internal variability and land–atmosphere feedbacks, according to observations and Earth system model simulations.
The 2026 Nobel Prize for Physics has gone to Francis Halzen for his “decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin”.
In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast I am joined by the University of Oxford neutrino physicist Kirsty Duffy and Physics World’s Matin Durrani to talk about this year’s prize. This is the fifth time a Nobel prize has been awarded for work on neutrinos, and we explore why physicists are so enamoured with these elusive particles.
This podcast is supported by American Elements, the world’s leading manufacturer of engineered and advanced materials. The company’s ability to scale laboratory breakthroughs to industrial production has contributed to many of the most significant technological advancements since 1990 – including LED lighting, smartphones, and electric vehicles.
The post Francis Halzen and IceCube: why neutrinos keep attracting Nobel prizes appeared first on Physics World.
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