How the human brain can pursue two goals at the same time

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02395-7In the natural world, an animal can blend strategies so it can advance towards several goals at the same time. An engineering approach called control theory was us…

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02395-7

In the natural world, an animal can blend strategies so it can advance towards several goals at the same time. An engineering approach called control theory was used to infer people’s goals while they played a simple video game, and showed how three brain regions work together to implement goal blending.

No single rule explains how climate affects carbon storage in tropical forests

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02291-0Ecologists have long wondered why some tropical forests store more carbon than others. A global satellite survey offers an explanation.

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02291-0

Ecologists have long wondered why some tropical forests store more carbon than others. A global satellite survey offers an explanation.

Bow shocks reveal how a dying star returns matter to interstellar space

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02159-3Deep imaging of ionized gas in the Helix Nebula uncovers many curved shock waves around a dying Sun-like star. These ‘bow shocks’ are produced when ejected shells …

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02159-3

Deep imaging of ionized gas in the Helix Nebula uncovers many curved shock waves around a dying Sun-like star. These ‘bow shocks’ are produced when ejected shells of stellar material break up and race outwards. Their changing shapes imply that the shell fragments are being stripped, shredded and mixed into interstellar gas over roughly 10,000 years.

Human brain stimulation engages different gene programs in different cell types

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02473-wElectrical stimulation of the human brain is a promising strategy for slowing cognitive decline. The discovery of cell-type-specific gene programs that are induced…

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02473-w

Electrical stimulation of the human brain is a promising strategy for slowing cognitive decline. The discovery of cell-type-specific gene programs that are induced in tandem with the activity of networks of neurons in the temporal cortex when it is stimulated could inform the development of therapeutic approaches using stimulation.

Ultrafast temporal engineering of optical properties using terahertz light

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02478-5A photonic time crystal is an optical system of which properties such as its refractive index are modulated strongly and rapidly over time. One has now been obtain…

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02478-5

A photonic time crystal is an optical system of which properties such as its refractive index are modulated strongly and rapidly over time. One has now been obtained all-optically by delivering an intense terahertz light wave onto a material with a specialized microstructure that hosts collective waves of electrons known as plasmons.

Intraspecific variation in tropical trees can drive resistance to drought

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02292-zDifferent tropical tree species can vary in their ability to withstand drought — and so too, it seems, can distinct populations of the same tree species.

Nature, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02292-z

Different tropical tree species can vary in their ability to withstand drought — and so too, it seems, can distinct populations of the same tree species.