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Molecular model of CRISPR-CAS9 gene editing complex in red, yellow and blue colours

The CRISPR–Cas9 complex (blue and yellow) can precisely cut DNA (red).Credit: Alfred Pasieka/Science Photo Library

‘Most complicated therapy ever’ success

A small clinical trial has shown that CRISPR gene editing can alter immune cells so that they seek out and destroy a person’s cancer. T cells, a type of white blood cell that patrols the body looking for errant cells, were modified to recognize the mutated proteins in tumours, which are different in every person. It is the first attempt to combine two hot areas of cancer research: gene editing to create personalized treatments, and the engineering of T cells to make them better at targeting tumours. “It is probably the most complicated therapy ever attempted in the clinic,” says study co-author Antoni Ribas, a cancer researcher and physician. “We’re trying to make an army out of a patient’s own T cells.”

Nature | 5 min read

Why flu and colds are back with a vengeance

Restrictions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 markedly blunted the spread of other respiratory illnesses. Now, in the Northern Hemisphere, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is surging, and the hospitalization rate for influenza in the United States is higher for the time of year than it has been since 2010. “These viruses are coming back, and they’re coming back with a vengeance,” says immunologist Scott Hensley. Why are these surges happening now? And what’s in store for future winters? Researchers weigh in with their thoughts, from infants not being exposed at a young age to waning immunity in older children and the timing of COVID-19 restrictions lifting.

Nature | 5 min read

A scientists’ guide to Mastodon

Some scientists looking for an alternative to Twitter are flocking to Mastodon, an open-source alternative created in 2016. The main difference between Mastodon and Twitter is that whereas Twitter is centrally controlled by a single company, Mastodon is decentralized. Because people tend to join different servers on the basis of their interests or locations, Mastodon can make it easier for users to speak to like-minded people. But it’s harder to broadcast your message to a wide range of people using Mastodon — an important feature for scientists who are interested in communicating their research to large, non-specialist audiences.

Nature | 5 min read

COP27 climate conference

Greenwashing: ‘the sham must end’

A United Nations-backed report has called out businesses and financial institutions whose net-zero commitments have “loopholes wide enough to drive a diesel truck through”. The group points to those who continue to invest in fossil fuels, offset emissions with shoddy carbon credits and lobby behind closed doors to undermine ambitious government climate policies. It also calls for public reporting and regulation to ensure companies are doing what they claim. "We must have zero tolerance for net-zero greenwashing,” said UN secretary-general António Guterres. “The sham must end.”

Reuters | 6 min read

Reference: Report of the High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Actors

Uruguay shows how it can be done

Writer Noah Gallagher Shannon visited Uruguay to explore what a successful, sustainable world might look like. “There are countries more prosperous, and countries with a smaller carbon footprint, but perhaps in none do the overlapping possibilities of living well and living without ruin show as much promise as in Uruguay,” he writes.

The New York Times | 30 min read

NOTABLE QUOTABLE

“The need for loss-and-damage finance can no longer be denied. Yet it must not become a wedge issue, dividing nations. If that happens, COP27 and future summits risk failure.”

A Nature editorial explains the options for loss and damage compensation on the table at COP27. (5 min read)

Read more: for a graphics-led introduction to climate finance, try this short feature in The New York Times. (5 min read)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM COP27?

Starting on Monday, I’ll be at COP27 in Egypt with the Nature News team as the conference enters a gruelling period of hard negotiations. We would like to hear your views about climate change, the summit and how science plays into the political process. Your comments might feature in future stories or help us to shape our coverage. Please e-mail me at at briefing@nature.com.

Infographic of the week

CAREER CONCERNS. Survey results focussing on the career concerns of graduate students.

Features & opinion

Saying ‘no’ in science isn’t enough

During a decade of research, four female professors found that women are more likely to be asked to take on work that matters to organizations but doesn’t help to advance careers — and are also more likely to volunteer themselves for such work. “The underlying reason is simple, and sad,” say the authors. “We all expect women to take on this work, which is why we ask them more often and judge them harshly when they say no. Women have internalized these expectations, and they feel a lot of pressure to say yes.” The problem isn’t solved by individual women saying no: another female colleague often gets asked instead. The authors offer five “easy fixes” for leaders to root out the problem at the source, which revolve around assigning tasks more thoughtfully.

Nature | 7 min read

Reference: American Economic Review paper

Futures: The last will and testament of the human race

A tongue-in-cheek look at what we might leave behind is the subject of the latest short story for Nature’s Futures series.

Nature | 6 min read

Podcast: Molecular cages sift water

Heavy water — which is similar to H2O but has deuterium isotopes in place of hydrogen atoms — is difficult to separate from normal water because the two have such similar properties. Now researchers have developed a way to sieve them using tiny molecular cages.

Nature Podcast | 25 min listen

Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Quote of the day

“On the one hand, I promote bicycle mobility, but on the other, the helmet is an object of protection and symbolizes how we must protect the environment.”

Cycling advocate Andy Costa wears his green bicycle helmet absolutely everywhere, including at the delegates table for Côte d'Ivoire at COP27. (El país | 4 min read)