An unvaccinated child is first US measles death in a decade

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A slimy barrier lining the inside of the brain’s blood vessels could shield the organ from the harmful effects of ageing. A component of the barrier — the glycocalyx — is full of large proteins called mucins. Researchers found that the glycocalyx of young mice contained more of one particular class of mucins than did the glycocalyx of old mice. When the authors bolstered the activity of an enzyme needed for mucin production, older mice performed better on learning and memory tests.

Nature | 4 min read

Reference: Nature paper

Two US spacecraft launched to the Moon on Wednesday to hunt for water that scientists think exists at the lunar south pole. One of the missions is a commercial lander, which should touch down on 6 March. It aims to land closer to the Moon’s south pole than any previous mission, carrying NASA instruments including an ice-hunting robot drill. The other spacecraft, NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, is an orbiter with the goal of producing the highest-resolution maps of water on the Moon. It will take a more leisurely route and reach the Moon in several months.

Nature | 5 min read

An unvaccinated child has died of measles in the United States — the first person in a decade to be killed by the virus there. The school-aged child died in Texas, which is experiencing its largest outbreak in 30 years of the extremely contagious disease. Top US health official Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who has promoted vaccine misinformation in the past, played down the outbreak, calling it “not unusual”. That’s incorrect, say public-health experts, who have decried a drop in vaccination rates that is leaving the country’s children less protected. “This is a big deal,” says pediatrician Amy Thompson “We have known that we have measles in our community, and we are now seeing a very serious consequence.”

Associated Press | 5 min read

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) — a crucial ocean-current system — seems unlikely to collapse in the face of severe climate change. Researchers have found that the AMOC will survive at least until the end of the century, despite predictions that it would disintegrate if Earth continues to warm. The combined forces of various ocean currents and winds would keep the system stable even under the most pessimistic climate scenarios, scientists say, even though the models they analysed don’t perfectly mirror reality. Still, the study also showed that the AMOC could weaken, which could have harmful consequences.

Nature | 5 min read

Reference: Nature paper

For the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) to collapse completely, upwelling — a wind-driven process in which cooler, nutrient-rich water rises to from deeper to shallower waters — in the Southern Ocean would need to be totally balanced by the reverse process — downwelling — elsewhere in the world. Using climate modelling, researchers found that even in extreme scenarios, downwelling in the Pacific Ocean wouldn’t be strong enough to match the upwelling in the Southern Ocean that sustains the AMOC. (Nature News & Views | 8 min read, Nature paywall)

Features & opinion

Quantum firms should take three steps to propel the field forward, says quantum physicist Jian-Wei Pan. First, they need to temper the hype surrounding their technologies — exaggerated promises risk undermining overall confidence in the field. Second, they should work to secure stable, long-term government investments to encourage private firms to invest in them too. Finally, quantum scientists must not let political tensions stand in the way of international collaboration. “Just like the first quantum revolution, the second will lead to societal advancements,” Pan writes. “Long-term development requires a positive, rational and cooperative environment.”

Nature | 5 min read

Ellen Wehrens was sceptical about the introduction of a happiness programme to her lab. But the initiative, which included a buddy system, personality tests and a colour-coding tool for describing wellbeing, has helped her team be more open and connected with each other. Meanwhile, ecologist and coach Ana Pineda says yoga, meditation and mindfulness have helped her find joy in even the most daunting tasks. Gathering supportive people around her has also helped Pineda weather challenges. “You need to find your angels,” she says.

Nature Careers podcast | 26 min listen

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to turbocharge drug discovery, but there are a few snags the field needs to tease out before that can happen. Different labs using different processes can trip up AI tools searching for patterns, so working out a standard experimental procedure is a first step. AI should also be exposed to negative results, so it can avoid the pitfalls of previous failed attempts. Above all, sheer volume of data — and smarter processing — will go a long way, some researchers argue.

Nature | 12 min read

This editorially independent article is part of Nature Outlook: Robotics and artificial intelligence, a supplement produced with financial support from FII Institute.

Today I’m brushing up on my chemistry by playing Chemdle. If you’re a fan of games such as Wordle, but wish they had more of an organic-synthesis focus, or if you just love drawing up organic compounds, this game is for you. I’ll admit I’m more than a little out of practice, so this might be my first and last time playing.

If you have more success than me, or have any feedback on this newsletter, please let me know at [email protected].

Thanks for reading,

Jacob Smith, associate editor, Nature Briefing

With contributions by Flora Graham and Gemma Conroy

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