Perspectives

As space travel promises to become a reality for more humans, insights from human genetics could serve to inform space medicine. Here, the authors overview genetic variants that might confer a protective effect in space, and ethical and technical challenges to translating these findings.

The author sheds light on critical non-technological barriers that significantly limit the broad utilization of machine learning in optical networks and presents several prospective solutions. Various pathways are discussed for the evolving machine learning potential for its desired penetration, credibility, and impact in real-world optical networks.

Artificial intelligence is greatly accelerating research in drug discovery, but its development is still hindered by the lack of available data. Here the authors present data management and data science recommendations to help reach AI’s potential in the field.

Biomarkers are needed in Parkinson’s for accurate diagnosis, to monitor progression and for targeted treatment. The authors reflect on recent imaging and fluid biomarkers for Parkinson’s and consider challenges in bringing them into clinical use.

Reproducibility is key to all fields of research, and in the case of animal research, this can be hampered by inconsistent reporting of animal genetics. Here the authors propose a reporting framework and guidelines designed to discuss the validation and standardise the reporting of genetic backgrounds and genetic alterations in animal models.

Developing biotechnologies to address society’s challenges requires integrating concepts across disciplines, posing challenges to educating students with diverse expertise. In this Perspective the authors create a framework for synthetic biology training that deconstructs biotechnologies across spatial scales.

Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCAR2) is an attractive drug target to treat inflammation. Here, Shenol et al. discuss recent structural findings that elucidate HCAR2 interactions with multiple orthosteric and an allosteric ligand and with G proteins, providing insight into signaling through this receptor.

There is growing recognition of the need for a One Health approach for coordinated management of disease threats affecting humans, animals, and the environment. In this Perspective, the authors discuss a roadmap for a One Health disease surveillance system focusing on the example of wastewater surveillance.

Chemistry at solid-water interfaces is crucial for all aspects of human life. Here, authors propose to use a probability-based paradigm for formalizing chemical reactions at solid-water interfaces in continuum scale models.

A new role for the MEP pathway has emerged in oxidative stress detection, signalling, and response. The authors compile all the evidence and postulate that this sensing ability and response occurs through the oxygen sensitivity of its iron-sulphur cluster enzymes.

Organ on Chip platforms hold significant promise as alternatives to traditional animal models or cell cultures. In this Perspective, the authors examine the barriers that prevent widespread dissemination and deployment of these systems.

New and dynamically changing opportunities for commercial/private and civilian spaceflight raise the need for an examination of how to ethically guide space industry and community. This Perspective explores such considerations with respect to space traveler selection and human subject research.

High-resolution omics data have facilitated the ongoing Human Cell Atlas project. In this Perspective, Rutter and colleagues propose that a parallel Human Cell Space Atlas initiative would provide a platform for spaceflight-associated research and healthcare.

Recently, studies have identified different low-density lipoprotein receptors as functional entry receptors for alphaviruses. In this Perspective, the authors compare the known alphavirus-receptor structures and discuss why it might be challenging to generate a broad-spectrum entry inhibitor.

Post-lithium metal||S batteries show promise for practical applications, but limited understanding of cell parameters and sulfur electrocatalytic conversion hampers progress. This Perspective provides critical insights on potential research directions for designing practical post-lithium metal||S batteries.

The way we generate and treat plastic waste is a key consideration in the transition from a take-make-waste model to a truly circular economy. Here, authors discuss their views on how biotechnology could contribute to solving the plastic problem, and the barriers we need to overcome to make such approaches a reality.

Earthquakes are rupture-like processes that propagate along tectonic faults and cause seismic waves. Here, the authors present the challenges associated with defining and measuring the energy dissipation in laboratory and natural earthquakes across many scales.

Microbial degradation and biosynthesis of fluorinated compounds is a field of increasing importance, but is hampered by the significant toxicity of fluoride. Here authors discuss emerging ideas on microbial defluorination/fluorination and fluoride resistance mechanisms, providing guidance on how this knowledge can guide future bioengineering approaches.

Harnessing the potential of considerable food security efforts requires the ability to translate them into commercial applications. In this Perspective, the author explores the alternative protein source start-up landscape.

Temporal blockade of the mononuclear phagocyte system is an approach to enhance the therapeutic efficiency of nanocarrier drug-delivery systems but the broad applicability is hindered by the complexity of optimisation and management of potential side effects. Here, the authors review the development of this technique and show its efficiency using meta-analysis of the published data and discuss essential features for its successful translation to clinic.