2017-07-21

封面圖展示的是在地中海里游弋的大西洋藍(lán)鰭金槍魚(yú)?？茖W(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)金槍魚(yú)的魚(yú)鰭具有液壓控制機(jī)能，這一發(fā)現(xiàn)掲示了脊椎動(dòng)物的淋巴系統(tǒng)前所未知的功用。這種魚(yú)鰭的控制機(jī)制可能會(huì)為“智能”控制界面的設(shè)計(jì)帶來(lái)靈感，使其具有可變換的外形及剛度，從而提髙無(wú)人駕駛的機(jī)載和水下車(chē)具的機(jī)動(dòng)性能。

Atlantic bluefin tunain the Mediterranean Sea. The hydraulic control of fins discovered in tunas indicates a previously unknown role of the lymphatic system in vertebrates. This fin control mechanism may inspire the design of "smart” control surfaces with changeable shape and stiffness that could enhance the maneuvering performance of unmanned airborne and underwater vehicles.

2017-07-28

封面上展示的是一個(gè)細(xì)胞的細(xì)胞核內(nèi)部染色質(zhì)的概念插圖。DNA被組裝成核染色質(zhì)，是為了融入細(xì)胞核和有絲分裂的染色體，其結(jié)構(gòu)決定了我們基因組的功能。研究人員通過(guò)將帶有一個(gè)DNA結(jié)合染料的染色細(xì)胞在DNA表面沉積金屬粉塵，就能夠?qū)⑷祟?lèi)基因組的染色質(zhì)結(jié)構(gòu)形象化。

Conceptual illustration of chromatin inside a cells nucleus. To fit in the nucleus and mitotic chromosomes， DNA is assembled into chromatin， the structure of which determines the functions of our genome. By painting cells with a DNA binding dye that deposits a metal dusting on the surface of DNA， Ou et al. were able to visualize the chromatin structure of the human genome.

2017-08-04

封面圖展示的是通過(guò)藝術(shù)手法表現(xiàn)的合成大分子階梯支架片斷，在一種天然產(chǎn)物結(jié)構(gòu)的啟發(fā)下，這個(gè)片斷在機(jī)械力的作用下通過(guò)開(kāi)環(huán)反應(yīng)打開(kāi)。接踵而至的絕緣聚合物結(jié)構(gòu)的機(jī)械化學(xué)變形轉(zhuǎn)化成半導(dǎo)體聚乙炔納米線，隨即快速地轉(zhuǎn)變了材料的內(nèi)在特性及功能。

Artistically rendered segment of a synthetic macromolecular ladder scaffold， inspired by a natural product structure， that unzips through ring-opening in response to mechanical force. The ensuing mechanochemical metamorphosis of the insulating polyladderene structure into semiconducting polyacetylene nanowires rapidly transforms the material's intrinsic properties and functions.

2017-08-11

在14000多年前，首批人類(lèi)到達(dá)美洲，旅途中，他們可能乘船通過(guò)了像封面圖中俄勒岡州海岸這樣的風(fēng)景地貌?？脊艑W(xué)家們正在試圖追尋他們的腳步。

The first humans to arrive in the Americas，more than 14000 years ago， may have traveled by boat through landscapes such as this one on the coast of Oregon. Archaeologists are now trying to trace their steps.endprint