Nature Reviews Methods Primers

nature.comAgentic AI systems for scientific discovery - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersAgentic artificial intelligence (AI) systems enhance scientific workflows by structuring knowledge coordination through natural language interfaces. In this Primer, Feng et al. examine the challenges ...

Curious about how #AI agents can assist in your scientific research? This #Primer details how AI can help literature searches, simulations, and automated experiments while also addressing the challenges of hallucinations and misuse. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comAgentic AI systems for scientific discovery - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the challenges and opportunities that come with implementing agentic AI systems in the laboratory.

This #PrimeView highlights the challenges and opportunities that come with implementing agentic AI systems in the laboratory. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

Nanopore sequencing enhances cell-free DNA analysis by enabling direct, single-molecule examination without amplification bias. This #Primer address challenges in detection, characterization, and integration of multi-omic signals. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comNanopore sequencing of cell-free DNA - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the various applications for nanopore sequencing of cell-free DNA from human blood samples.

And the related #PrimeView highlights the various applications for nanopore sequencing of cell-free DNA from human blood samples. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comEngineering synthetic thermogels - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThermogels are polymeric materials that transition between sol and gel states in response to temperature changes. In this Primer, Wang et al. outline the design, synthesis and characterization of synt...

Thermogels transition between sol and gel states in response to temperature changes. This #Primer highlights the importance of systematic approaches in the design and characterization of thermogels to enhance their application-specific performance. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comEngineering synthetic thermogels - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the formation of thermogels in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–polyester-, polyurethane- and polypeptide-based systems.

And check out the #PrimeView which highlights the formation of thermogels in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–polyester-, polyurethane- and polypeptide-based systems. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

Nature Reviews Methods Primers reposted

Nature Methods

@natmethods.nature.com

Back in 2010 when we selected optogenetics as our Method of the Year, we had already observed the transformative impact that it was making on basic research in neuroscience. www.nature.com/nmeth/volume... www.nature.com/articles/nme... It's exciting to see how far the technology has come!

nature.comNature Methods - Volume 8 Issue 1, January 2011Optogenetics, our pick for Method of the Year 2010, is rapidly becoming a vital tool for neurobiologists, who are applying it to study both basic biology and...

Nobel Prize@nobelprize.org

BREAKING NEWS The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.”

nature.comOptogenetics for light control of biological systems - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersOptogenetic techniques involve the introduction of photoreceptors into selected cells to allow control over their activity using light. In this Primer, Emiliani et al. discuss the most commonly used o...

It's a great day to learn about #Optogenetics! Congrats to the this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, featuring one of our #Primer authors, Peter Hegemann Learn more here: www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comSelective gas adsorption in microporous materials - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis Primer highlights micropore design principles governed by distinct separation mechanisms to resolve key performance trade-offs in industrial gas separations. It outlines the experimental workflow...

Micropore design is crucial for improving gas separation technologies. This #Primer discusses how tuning pore size, shape, and chemistry can optimize selectivity and capacity, offering alternatives to energy-intensive industrial gas separations. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comSelective gas adsorption in microporous materials - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the different type of data collected from microporous adsorbents throughout the process from laboratory development to industrial application.

And the related #PrimeView overviews the process from lab-based microstructure analysis to eventual industrial implementation. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comPolyoxometalates for redox chemistry - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersPolyoxometalates (POMs) are anionic molecular metal oxide clusters composed of high-valent early transition metals. In this Primer, Anjass et al. describe how redox-active POMs are selected, synt...

#Polyoxometalates (POMs), are gaining attention for their potential in sustainable energy and catalysis technologies. The #Primer highlights the atomic-level structure and reactivity of POMs alongside their application in next-generation energy solutions. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comPolyoxometalates for redox chemistry - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the key features of the most prominent species of polyoxometalates.

And check out the related #PrimeView featuring some of the most common POMs www.nature.com/articles/s43...

Nature Reviews Methods Primers reposted

Nature Portfolio

@natureportfolio.nature.com

Meet the 13 candidates and initiatives shortlisted for the 2026 Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science, in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies. Congratulations to all! Learn more: go.nature.com/4xY1ZbR #WomenInSTEM

nature.comOptical photothermal infrared spectroscopy - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersOptical photothermal infrared spectroscopy is capable of submicrometre infrared analysis with minimal water interference and scattering artefacts. This indirect, non-contact pump–probe method circumve...

18 Sept

From @andrewpault.bsky.social and co-workers is a new #Primer on optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy - a technique that uses a visible probe laser to improve the spatial resolution down to sub-micrometers. Check it out here: www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comOptical photothermal infrared spectroscopy - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the experimental set-up for optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy, which can be used in transmission or reflection configuration and probe both IR- and Raman-active mode...

18 Sept

And the associated #PrimeView highlights the experimental setup with an emphasis on photothermal expansion: www.nature.com/articles/s43...

go.nature.comReframing Precision Medicine: Innovation to Implementation | 13–15 October 2026A Nature conference reimagining what it means to deliver truly personalised care in the next decade.

16 Sept

Looking forward to welcoming the scientific community to London 13–15 Oct 2026 for Reframing Precision Medicine: Innovation to Implementation. We’ll explore how multi omics, AI & big data can move personalised care from promise to practice. Learn more at go.nature.com/471AdQb

nature.comUltrafast methodsThis Collection features Primers, PrimeViews, Comments, and a Q&A on spectroscopy and microscopy methods.

🚨⏩ Check out our newest collection on #ultrafast methods - highlighting Primers articles on techniques that use ultrafast laser pulses for spectroscopy, microscopy, and manufacturing www.nature.com/collections/...

Guidance from @apcarpenter1.bsky.social and Rebecca Altman on how to choose ultrafast equipment and incorporate AI: rdcu.be/ZYVLJgraFp6a

And a helpful perspective from Emily Sprague-Klein and Daniel Mittleman on starting an ultrafast spectroscopy lab: rdcu.be/MftQ7h214nha

nature.comUltrafast methodsThis Collection features Primers, PrimeViews, Comments, and a Q&A on spectroscopy and microscopy methods.

A Q&A with Giulio Cerullo on the current state of ultrafast methods: rdcu.be/9s3DcneBgMLa

A discussion on how ultrafast laser pulses can be used in additive manufacturing from Paul Somers and Martin Wegener: rdcu.be/1g8PQgEViN4a

nature.comUltrafast methodsThis Collection features Primers, PrimeViews, Comments, and a Q&A on spectroscopy and microscopy methods.

This collection also include an editorial on the importance of knowledge transfer in ultrafast methods: rdcu.be/LwLYMvoS4jSa

nature.comBioinformatics for human long-read whole-genome sequencing - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersLong-read sequencing facilitates observation of contiguous DNA molecules, providing access to variants previously ignored. In this Primer, Zheng et al. discuss the computational foundations of long-re...

Long-read #sequencing is transforming our understanding of the human #genome by revealing complex genetic variations often missed by traditional methods. This #Primer explores the computational techniques enabling these insights. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comBioinformatics for human long-read whole genome sequencing - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the use of long-read sequencing for examining previously overlooked sources of genetic and regulatory variation.

This #PrimeView highlights the use of long-read sequencing for examining previously overlooked sources of genetic and regulatory variation. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comImaging mass cytometry - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersImaging mass cytometry is a highly multiplexed tissue-imaging technique that allows the simultaneous in situ detection of up to 45 markers with subcellular-level resolution. In this Primer, Meyer et a...

3 Sept

Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) offers a powerful approach for tissue imaging, detecting up to 45 markers at subcellular resolution. This #Primer from @bb-lab.bsky.social and team guides users through the IMC workflow, from antibody conjugation to data analysis. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comImaging mass cytometry - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the workflow for generating highly multiplexed tissue images using imaging mass cytometry.

3 Sept

And check out this #PrimeView featuring the workflow for generating highly multiplexed tissue images using imaging mass cytometry. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comIn situ/operando X-ray methods for investigating high-temperature electrocatalysis - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersHigh-temperature electrochemical devices operate at gas–solid interfaces in highly redox-active environments. In situ and operando characterization techniques are crucial for monitoring the structural...

27 Aug

High-temp #electrochemical devices are vital for low-carbon energy. This #Primer outlines in situ/#operando methods to study their complex reactions, focusing on X-ray techniques and practical considerations for researchers. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comIn situ/operando X-ray methods for investigating high-temperature electrocatalysis - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the ways in which high-temperature electrochemical cells can be interrogated using X-ray techniques.

27 Aug

And check out the ways in which high-temperature electrochemical cells can be interrogated using X-ray techniques in this #PrimeView www.nature.com/articles/s43...

go.nature.com4th Frontiers in Electron and Scanning Probe Microscopy for the Physical and Life SciencesAdvances in electron microscopy instrumentation and methods continue to drive progress in the physical and life sciences. The 4th edition of this conference will bring together researchers from physic...

14 Aug

Join us at Princeton University this October to hear the latest electron microscopy instrumentation and methods driving progress in the physical and life sciences. go.nature.com/4h0zAME

go.nature.comReframing Precision Medicine: Innovation to Implementation | 13–15 October 2026A Nature conference reimagining what it means to deliver truly personalised care in the next decade.

14 Aug

nature.comPositron annihilation spectroscopy - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis Primer provides an introduction to positron annihilation spectroscopy and its uses in studying atomic-scale structures in solids.

13 Aug

#Positron annihilation spectroscopy probes atomic-level structures by detecting γ-photons from positron-electron annihilation. In this week's #Primer, learn about the method, and the recent advances in studying defects in materials and interfaces. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comPositron annihilation spectroscopy - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the use of positrons, typically generated from radioisotopes, to detect crystalline imperfections, such as vacancies or void spaces, in positron annihilation spectroscopy.

13 Aug

And check out the related #PrimeView, highlighting the use of positrons to detect crystalline imperfections, such as vacancies or void spaces. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comUsing Raman spectrometers developed for space exploration in other extreme environments - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersOptimizing Raman spectrometer designs for use in extreme environments can enable acquisition of critical information that may not be accessible in situ by humans. Technology advancements currently bei...

Catching the #eclipse today? Have a look at these space related #Primers, #PrimeViews, and comments for fun too! 🌔📡 Starting of with the unique usage of #Raman in space: www.nature.com/articles/s43...

rdcu.beAstronomical radio interferometryNature Reviews Methods Primers - This PrimeView highlights the application of astronomical radio interferometry for the sensitive study of celestial objects.

This #PrimeView highlights the application of astronomical radio interferometry for the sensitive study of #celestial objects. rdcu.be/fzx1S

Hope you enjoy these articles, and the eclipse! Let us know how these #Primers have helped your #astronomy research and if there are additional topics that you would like to see a Primer on!

rdcu.beAdaptive optics for high-resolution imagingNature Reviews Methods Primers - This PrimeView on adaptive optics highlights the general experimental setup of this technique that corrects image imperfections in astronomy, vision science and...

This #PrimeView on adaptive optics highlights the general experimental setup of this technique that corrects image imperfections in astronomy, vision science and microscopy. rdcu.be/fzx0R

nature.comAstronomical radio interferometry - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersArrays of element antennas in radio interferometry enable the study of celestial objects with angular resolutions comparable with, or surpassing, optical imaging at wavelengths thousands of times shor...

Lastly, check out #astronomical radio #interferometry which allows for celestial objects to be studied at submillimeter wavelengths. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

rdcu.beMuographyNature Reviews Methods Primers - This PrimeView highlights different applications of muographic imaging, cryptography, positioning, navigation and timing.

This #PrimeView highlights different applications of #muographic imaging, cryptography, positioning, navigation and timing. rdcu.be/fzxZg

nature.comAdaptive optics for high-resolution imaging - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis Primer provides an overview of the general principles of adaptive optics and explores the different ways in which adaptive optics can correct optical aberrations for high-resolution imaging in th...

How are optics used in space? Well, they are adapted of course! #Adaptiveoptics www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comMuography - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersMuography takes advantage of the high penetrating power and relativistic nature of cosmic-ray muons for imagery; positioning, navigation, timing; and secured communications. This Primer provides an ov...

How about #muography which uses the heavier nature of cosmic-ray #muons in various technology www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comNoise-equivalent pressures of ultrasound detectors used in photoacoustic tomography - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersPhotoacoustic tomography (PAT) is a biomedical imaging technique based on the use of optically excited ultrasound waves. In this Primer, Guggenheim et al. describe the noise-equivalent pressures repor...

6 Aug

#Photoacoustic #tomography (PAT) relies on optically excited ultrasound waves for imaging. This week's #Primer highlights the importance of noise-equivalent pressures for various detectors, aiding in the selection and development of PAT technologies. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comNoise-equivalent pressures of ultrasound detectors used in photoacoustic tomography - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the landscape of noise equivalent pressures (NEPs) for different detectors used in photoacoustic tomography.

6 Aug

This #PrimeView highlights the landscape of noise equivalent pressures for different detectors used in photoacoustic tomography. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comNeutron spin echo spectroscopy - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersNeutron spin echo spectroscopy investigates internal dynamics and diffusion in materials, using advanced instruments and data collection techniques. In this Primer, Faraone et al. discuss how neutron ...

23 July

Neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy offers insights into the internal dynamics and diffusion processes of materials. This #Primer explores its applications across various systems, from proteins to quantum magnets and catalysts. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comNeutron spin echo spectroscopy - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the instrumentation for neutron spin echo spectroscopy, which measures neutron velocity changes in a magnetic field using spin precession angle measurements.

23 July

And check out the related #PrimeView, highlighting the instrumentation for #NSE www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comPeptide ligand discovery of G protein-coupled receptors - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersPeptides have become an increasingly important and versatile ligand type for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). In this Primer, Hermes et al. discuss the experimental and computational workflow...

16 July

Recent advances in #peptide-GPCR interactions are transforming drug discovery. This #Primer details experimental and computational approaches, from in silico peptide mining to modern biosensor assays, paving the way for novel therapeutics. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comPeptide ligand discovery of G protein-coupled receptors - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView highlights the workflow for GPCR peptide discovery from biodiversity-derived sequences, structural data and peptide libraries.

16 July

This #PrimeView highlights the workflow for GPCR peptide discovery from biodiversity-derived sequences, structural data and peptide libraries. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comDistributional regression using generalized additive models for location, scale and shape - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersDistributional regression models entire conditional response distributions. In this Primer, Merder et al. discuss how distributional regression is used to predict uncertainty and extreme conditions in...

14 July

Explore how generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS) extend traditional regression by modeling mean, variance, and more. This #Primer highlights the role of distributional regression in risk assessment and predicting uncertainty. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comDistributional regression using generalized additive models for location, scale and shape - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersThis PrimeView discusses the range of data to which distributional regression can be applied to understand deviations from the response norm and their real-world impact.

14 July

The #PrimeView features applications of distributional regression in health, ecology, and environmental science. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.comSynthesis and applications of conductive polymers - Nature Reviews Methods PrimersConductive polymers (CPs) are π-conjugated organic semiconductors that exhibit electrical conductivities similar to insulators and metals while maintaining the flexibility of plastics. This Primer pro...

2 July

Conductive polymers (CPs) have unique optoelectronic properties and mechanical ductility. This #Primer discusses how these features make CPs suitable for next-gen optoelectronic and bioelectronic devices. www.nature.com/articles/s43...