Reviews & Analysis

The nexus of biotechnology, information technology, nanotechnology and engineering is at the heart of innovation. Here the authors explore breakthroughs in integrating chip technology and bioinformational processing for this emerging interface of bio-inspired engineering and engineering-enabled biology.

For decades, research on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia has lacked a unified framework. This Perspective explores the convergence of key amyloid protein oligomerization processes that drive neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular damage, aiming to advance effective diagnosis and treatment of amyloid diseases.

In situ and operando techniques are useful towards mechanistic investigations of electrocatalytic systems but must be carried out and interpreted properly. Here, the authors provide a set of guidelines for best practices in the use these methods.

Climate change and extreme weather events will influence migration patterns. However, it is important that our policies do not forget about those who are immobile to migration. This perspective explores different forms of involuntary immobility and how climate policy can address this.

In the era of climate change, human societies face growing exposure to disasters and complex climate risks. This perspective explores the transformative potential of integrated Artificial Intelligence in developing multi-hazard Early Warning Systems for all.

Unprecedented weather events are increasingly impacting societies worldwide. This Perspective explores methods to anticipate such hazards, and it highlights the role of transformative, incremental, and reactive adaptation strategies to achieve enhanced resilience.

Nano-agrochemicals and nanomedicine are two areas of active research. While there are some distinct differences there are areas of overlap and lessons which can be learned. Here, the authors encourage readers to see where lessons can be learned from nanomedicine to avoid issues and advance nano-agriculture.

This review examines the role of endogenous opioid receptors (EORs) in maladaptive feeding, focusing on shared mechanisms between obesity and anorexia nervosa. It highlights EOR-driven neural plasticity, links to pain and substance use, and proposes directions for EOR-targeted therapeutic research.

Genomics resources are crucial for discovering and producing phytochemicals with pharmacological activities. Here, the authors summarize current advancements and limitations in medicinal plant genomics and provide outlooks to move the field forward.

The author presents an overview of the complex challenge of protein export from the Endoplasmic Reticulum, and discusses how cells may deploy novel pathways utilizing specialized proteins to construct customized transport routes, precisely calibrated to meet physiological demands.

The food and water crisis demands innovative agricultural solutions. Here, the authors propose a next-generation greenhouse water-saving strategy by integrating advanced technologies, including atmospheric water harvesting, superabsorbent polymers, radiative cooling, and solar-driven desalination.

This review highlights knowledge gaps in assessing climate benefits of afforestation in Canada’s north, emphasizing the need to consider various factors beyond carbon, like permafrost, albedo, and energy exchange, before drawing conclusions.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the study of extreme climate events like floods, droughts, and wildfires, helping to overcome challenges such as limited data and real-time integration. This review article highlights the need for transparent, reliable AI models to improve disaster response, risk communication and stakeholder trust.

Neural technologies are adopting bio-inspired designs to enhance biointegration and functionality. This review maps the growing field of bio-inspired electronics and discusses recent developments in tissue-like bioelectronics, from soft interfaces to ‘biohybrid’ and ‘all-living’ platforms.

Repurposed drugs provide a rich source of potential therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders (NDD). In this review, the authors discuss the advantages and challenges of repurposing, offer strategies for overcoming the obstacles and describe the key contributions of repurposing to drug development.

The authors outline a framework uniting electronic medical records with post-genomic data to capture real-time physiological changes via periodic molecular snapshots, enabling a shift from reactive treatments to proactive, inclusive care.

Many studies have developed methods for predicting the incidence of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, but implementation of these tools is limited. In this Perspective, the authors discuss how tools should be developed with a view to ensuring adoptability and sustainability.

Brain-inspired neuromorphic algorithms and systems have shown essential advance in efficiency and capabilities of AI applications. In this Perspective, the authors introduce NeuroBench, a benchmark framework for neuromorphic approaches, collaboratively designed by researchers across industry and academia.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is characterised by progressive muscle weakness and variable brain involvement. In this review the authors describe the molecular underpinning of this brain involvement, and how genetic therapies improve behavioural outcomes in the dystrophic mouse models.

The primary motor cortex (M1) not only drives movement but also responds to rewards. In this Perspective, the authors discuss the functional roles of M1’s reward signals and propose how they could transform neurotechnologies like brain-computer interfaces and brain stimulation for movement recovery.