Nature staff discussed top science news of the week, including research on attention and focus. Studies suggest that difficulty concentrating is driven more by constant digital notifications than by a genuinely shortened attention span. The distinction has important implications for mental health in the digital age.
A team from UCSF used synchrotron X-rays to discover new pathways for engineering more active enzymes. The research found that weak, seemingly insignificant molecular bonds can serve as the starting point for designing proteins with entirely new functions. The breakthrough could have major implications for biotechnology and medicine.
The United Nations has proposed replacing GDP with a set of 31 progress indicators, including greenhouse gas emissions, life expectancy, and children's reading and maths performance. Published in Nature on May 8, 2026, the piece reflects growing dissatisfaction with GDP as the world's primary measure of economic health.
Nature's weekly briefing chat, published May 8, 2026, discusses new science suggesting that difficulty concentrating is driven by constant digital notifications rather than a shrinking attention span. The finding reframes a widely held belief about modern cognitive challenges and technology's role in them.
Published in Nature on May 11, 2026, this piece collects heartwarming stories from scientists about their best days in research. Aimed at those who may have forgotten why they chose a science career, it offers motivating anecdotes from across the scientific community.
A new book reviewed in Nature on May 11, 2026, draws on ethnography, neurobiology, and primatology to argue that human sleep duration is an evolutionary trade-off. The work examines how other species sleep and what lessons humans can draw to improve their own sleep habits.
Nature published a publisher's correction on May 11, 2026, for a study on presymptomatic training in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. The original research showed that early training can mitigate functional deficits associated with the condition. The correction does not alter the study's core conclusions.
The author reflects on how convenience has evolved from a minor life perk into a core mechanism shaping daily routines. From food delivery to algorithm-chosen playlists and routes, more decisions are being delegated to apps. While she enjoys these comforts herself, she questions whether the price paid — in autonomy and mindfulness — is too high.
Scientists have discovered an alarming process occurring beneath permafrost as it melts. The thawing releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, while also raising the risk of dangerous pathogens being released. The findings highlight the accelerating pace of climate change.
The popular belief that the Universe expands from a single point since the Big Bang is an oversimplification. Space between galaxies is growing, but the commonly used balloon analogy doesn't fully capture what's really happening in the cosmos. Physics leaves more unexplained than most people assume.
The podcast "Rzecz o idei" explores the roots of the demographic crisis, asking whether capitalism, culture or selfishness is to blame. The discussion questions whether women, a so-called selfish generation, or a system that makes parenthood heroic are responsible. The debate increasingly turns into an online gender war.
Scientists are warning that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which regulates climate across Europe and North America, is at risk of shutting down. Climate change is identified as the driving threat behind the potential collapse. The warning was published by Yale Environment 360.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have developed a new "super steel" capable of surviving the harsh conditions required for green hydrogen production from seawater. The material uses an unexpected double-protection mechanism against corrosion, far outperforming conventional stainless steel. It could also replace costly titanium components currently used in hydrogen production systems.
Scientists at the University of Rochester successfully transferred a longevity-related gene from naked mole rats into mice. The gene boosts production of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which protects against cancer, reduces inflammation, and supports healthier aging. The modified mice showed stronger tumor resistance, healthier guts, and longer lifespans.
Research led by scientist Xin Yin in Jiangsu, China, suggests that physical traits such as enhanced running endurance in mice may be inherited not through DNA but through paternal RNA. Experimental mice ran farther and produced less lactic acid than genetically identical control mice, despite receiving no special training.
The Canada lynx is remarkably adapted to life in the frozen forests of northern USA and Canada, with oversized paws that act like natural snowshoes. Despite being a master predator, the species faces serious threats from climate change and habitat loss. Scientists warn that future generations may not see the lynx in its natural habitat.
Scientists have found that the universe's largest black holes exist despite theoretical limits that should prevent their formation. The cosmos appears to have found unexpected mechanisms to create these massive objects. The discovery sheds new light on the processes shaping the structure of the universe.
New research reveals that biology has been relying on the same sets of genes for millions of years. Life repeatedly returns to the same genetic solutions, suggesting a deep evolutionary conservatism. The finding could reshape our understanding of how evolution works at the molecular level.
NASA's Mars rover has encountered an unprecedented technical malfunction on the Red Planet. The failure is described as unlike anything experienced in previous Mars missions. Scientists are working to understand the nature of the problem and find a solution for the stranded vehicle.
More and more athletes are training for heat tolerance as global temperatures rise. In March 2025, runners at the Los Angeles marathon were allowed to stop nearly 13 kilometers before the finish line as temperatures neared 32°C. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, organizers implemented special cooling procedures and closely monitored athletes' core body temperatures.