2018-11-30

封面上展示的是活性降解26S蛋白酶体的结构，显示出腺苷三磷酸酶（ATP酶）马达的连续状态与守恒的酪氨酸桨（图中蓝色、绿色和黄色集群）以螺旋阶梯式排列，并将蛋白质基质（图中黄色块状物）拉进一个降解室。原始构象态是透明的，而后续的构象态是不透明的。这些数据为我们提供了一个机会深入了解这一AAA+家族成员是如何结合ATP水解与构象变化从而产生机械功的。

Structures of the actively degrading 26S proteasome show consecutive states of the ATPase motor with conserved tyrosine paddles (blue, green, and yellow clusters) arranged in a spiral staircase and pulling a protein substrate (yellow blocks) into a degradation chamber. The original conformational state is transparent, whereas the subsequent state is opaque. The data provide insights into how this member of the AAA+ family couples ATP hydrolysis with conformational changes to produce mechanical work.

2018-12-07

封面图展示的是AlphaZero程序正在自学国际象棋、日本将棋和围棋，它从随机游戏开始，并且除了游戏规则之外没有被给予任何专业领域知识，AlphaZero程序在自学过程中的每场比赛里都击败了一个世界冠军程序。图中蓝色半透明的棋子代表AlphaZero可能的走法；百分比表示预测的结果。能够处理数个复杂问题的单一算法是我们向创建多用途机器学习系统以解决实际问题迈出的重要一步。

Starting from random play and given no domain knowledge except the game rules, the AlphaZero program taught itself to play chess, shogi, and Go, defeating a world champion program in each game. Blue translucent pieces represent AlphaZero's possible moves; percentages indicate the predicted outcome. A single algorithm that can master several complex problems is an important step toward creating a general-purpose machine learning system to tackle real-world problems.

2018-12-14

人脑是无数分子与基因相互作用的产物。在封面图中，这个霓虹灯人脑图示代表个体遗传变异，通过心理编码协会的调查表明，其中一些变异可能会导致疾病（以比较暗的部分或黑色的片段表示）。这个问题揭示了发育中和正常成人大脑中的神经遗传及表观遗传变异现象，以及精神分裂症、自闭症谱系障碍和躁郁症等病症中的情况。

The human brain is the product of myriad molecular and genetic interactions. Here, a neon brain illustration represents individual genetic variability, some of which may lead to disease (denoted by dim or dark segments), as investigated by the PsychENCODE Consortium. This issue sheds light on neurogenetic and epigenetic variation in developing and adult neurotypical brains, as well as in schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder.

2018-12-21

封面图展示的是一个处于发育早期的斑马鱼胚胎。图中用荧光标记突出显示了参与决定细胞类型的细胞表达基因。通过标记早期胚胎细胞追踪它们的谱系，在发育过程中分离出数千个细胞，并且对它们的RNA细胞逐个进行细胞测序，从而追踪发育过程的惊人细节，这种科研能力就是《科学》杂志2018年度的“重大科学突破”。

A zebrafish embryo at an early stage of development. Fluorescent markers highlight cells expressing genes involved in determining the type of cell they will become. The ability to track development in stunning detail by marking early embryonic cells to trace their lineage, isolating thousands of cells during development, and sequencing their RNA cell by cell, is Science's 2018 Breakthrough of the Year.