Observations might have uncovered star clusters that existed when the Universe was just 460 million years old. If this timing is accurate, the discovery provides valuable clues about how and when the first stars formed.

The two strands of DNA, although chemically equivalent, are replicated and repaired asymmetrically. Insights into the persistence of DNA damage show how strand-specific interactions shape the genome-wide distribution of mutations, including the unexpected symmetry of mutations arising in the DNA strands during replication.

Cells that form tissue barriers rely on cell–cell contacts called tight junctions. These structures assemble from protein condensates that spread along the cell membrane like a water droplet spreading over glass.

Molecular, anatomical and functional evidence point to a multi-nodal neural circuit that senses allergenic particles in inhaled air and induces exaggerated airway constriction, a hallmark of asthma. This is the first description of a full circuit that starts in the lung and returns to control lung function.