Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Urban meteorology-chemistry coupling in compound heat-ozone extremes
Escalating heat and ozone extremes have emerged as a principal urban challenge. We find that heatwave-reinforced emissions and turbulence accelerate ozone production at the surface and aloft. Stringent emission control of nitrogen oxides could mitigate heat-ozone extremes under a warming climate.
Rethinking urban flood resilience in the age of inequality
This Nature Cities study began as a technical assessment of levees but evolved into a deeper exploration of how partial flood protection can shift risk, reduce lead time for some, and amplify inequality across cities with core–periphery structures.
Chemistry-informed recommender system to predict optimal molecular receptors in SERS nanosensors
From Netflix to Nanosensors: A Chemistry-Informed Recommender System for Smarter SERS Sensors. Recommender systems are widely used in our daily lives, can analogous data-driven approaches be applied to suggest optimal recognition elements for nanosensors?
A Genomic Wake-Up Call: Rethinking Breast Cancer Through the African Lens
In our recent NPJ Breast Cancer study, we reviewed all available data on breast cancer mutations in African populations—revealing distinct genetic patterns and major gaps in current knowledge.
Bringing Exposure-Related Malnutrition (ERM) to the Scientific Stage
Patients can appear well-nourished yet show fatigue, slow recovery, and early decline. Our work defines Exposure-Related Malnutrition (ERM) — a hidden, reversible state where chronic stress and exposures divert nutrients from repair to survival, accelerating biological aging.
Unmasking Cancer’s Microbial Allies: A Mega-Analysis of the Vaginal Microbiome in Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is almost always linked to HPV, but not all infections become cancer. Our mega-analysis reveals how shifts in the vaginal microbiome may influence this trajectory, uncovering microbial biomarkers and functional pathways with diagnostic potential (link to paper: https://rdcu.be/eAuwO)
