Normal view

A natural depsipeptide antibiotic binds the E-site of the bacterial ribosome

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10589-2

Improved fractionation strategies can identify antibiotics with previously unseen scaffolds and mechanisms, exemplified by manikomycin from Streptomyces rimosus, which acts by targeting the E-site of the bacterial large ribosomal subunit.

Mining triggers extensive additional deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10551-2

Extensive mining activity leads to large-scale deforestation of dense tropical forests across sub-Saharan Africa, driven particularly by key energy transition minerals such as cobalt.

Cold-induced peptide signalling secures pollen resilience and crop yield

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10603-7

A small-peptide signalling axis involving RGF family members controls resilience to cold stress in tomatoes and rice; modulating this pathway prevents cold-induced yield losses.

Teosinte alleles enhance nitrogen assimilation and seed protein in maize

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10575-8

Teosinte alleles enhance nitrogen assimilation and seed protein without lowering crop yield when expressed in modern maize, providing a powerful strategy for crop improvement to meet future population demands.

Cell-type-resolved genetic variation shapes inflammatory bowel disease risk

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10627-z

Single-cell mapping of cis-expression quantitative trait loci in inflammatory bowel disease revealed distal, enhancer-enriched variants detected at the cell-type level more frequently co-localize with genome-wide association study loci than those identified at the tissue level.

Plastoglobules compartmentalize nitrogen assimilation in maize

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10610-8

Chloroplast plastoglobules act as nitrogen-assimilation hubs in maize, with key enzymes enhancing nitrogen-use efficiency and offering new strategies for developing high-yield, sustainable crops.

Analysis of trade-offs of post-sorting plastic packaging

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10606-4

An analysis of post-sorting plastic packaging shows that target polymer purity is similar across source-separation and post-sorting pathways, but post-sorted plastics contain more contaminants that need to be removed before recyclate production.

Spermine is an endogenous iron chelator that inhibits ferroptosis

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10597-2

A non-canonical metabolic route for spermine synthesis mediated by ALDH18A1 limits iron availability and lipid peroxidation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chiral superfluorescence from perovskite superlattices at room temperature

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10637-x

Chiral perovskite superlattices exhibit room-temperature circularly polarized superfluorescence, with emission intensity and polarization controllable by weak magnetic fields.

Mechanophore cross-linking enhances ballistic energy dissipation of polymers

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10557-w

Embedding a small fraction of force-sensitive mechanophores as cross-links into common polymers enhances ballistic energy dissipation.

Commensal-derived acetylcholine enhances mucosal immune education

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10592-7

A diet–microbiome–host axis strengthens mucosal immune defences and reinforces host–microbiota mutualism.
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