First mission to fly through monstrous ‘fire clouds’ about to take off

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02351-5The towering formations appearing over severe wildfires in France and Oregon loft smoke so high they have global consequences.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02351-5

The towering formations appearing over severe wildfires in France and Oregon loft smoke so high they have global consequences.

Skin cancer spreads between catfish in a freshwater lake

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02287-wThe discovery of a transmissible melanoma in a freshwater catfish raises questions about the disease’s origin, mode of transmission and broader impact on the species.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02287-w

The discovery of a transmissible melanoma in a freshwater catfish raises questions about the disease’s origin, mode of transmission and broader impact on the species.

Editorial Expression of Concern: Carcinoma-produced factors activate myeloid cells through TLR2 to stimulate metastasis

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10923-8Editorial Expression of Concern: Carcinoma-produced factors activate myeloid cells through TLR2 to stimulate metastasis

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10923-8

Editorial Expression of Concern: Carcinoma-produced factors activate myeloid cells through TLR2 to stimulate metastasis

Inside the high-stakes race to develop an Ebola vaccine for an escalating outbreak

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02278-xThe University of Oxford has already vaccinated its first clinical-trial participant. The study’s lead scientist Teresa Lambe tells Nature how they were able to move…

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02278-x

The University of Oxford has already vaccinated its first clinical-trial participant. The study’s lead scientist Teresa Lambe tells Nature how they were able to move so fast.

Led by the nose: a queen’s scent shapes naked mole rat society

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02286-xNaked mole rats live in colonies characterized by having a single breeding queen. It emerges that a queen-associated chemical helps to maintain this reproductive hie…

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02286-x

Naked mole rats live in colonies characterized by having a single breeding queen. It emerges that a queen-associated chemical helps to maintain this reproductive hierarchy.

Consciousness research is having an AI moment. Will the hype help the field?

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02300-2The idea of AI sentience is drawing more focus to consciousness science. But some researchers aren’t sure that’s a good thing.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02300-2

The idea of AI sentience is drawing more focus to consciousness science. But some researchers aren’t sure that’s a good thing.

Why some wool is wavy

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02104-4How crimps form in the coats of sheep, and the history of the word ‘ionosphere’, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

Nature, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02104-4

How crimps form in the coats of sheep, and the history of the word ‘ionosphere’, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.