07/31/2026
Research Article
Endogenous brain rhythms are thought to support speech comprehension via auditory and motor interactions, but direct evidence for their role remains limited. Christina Lubinus, Johanna Rimmele and co-workers show that theta frequencies in superior temporal gyrus predict speech tracking, with motor rhythms enhancing tracking only in individuals with high auditory-motor synchronization.
Image credit: Felix Bernoully
Current Issue June 2026
07/30/2026
Research Article
Addition of catechin to peat microcosms can reduce methane emissions by allowing catechin-degrading bacteria to outcompete methanogens for hydrogen. James Riddell, Matthew Sullivan and co-authors use meta-omics to reveal that viral lysis of catechin degraders redistributes phenolic intermediates to diverse phenol-degrading taxa, helping to sustain methane suppression.
Image credit: pbio.3003925
07/30/2026
Research Article
Plant adaptation to climate requires precise regulation of carbon export to balance assimilation and utilization. Jianqiu Li, Min Song, Johannes Liesche and colleagues show that siRNA-guided exon methylation of a sucrose transporter gene modulates its expression with temperature, revealing a mechanism linking epigenetics to adaptive carbon transport.
Image credit: pbio.3003919
07/28/2026
Meta-Research Article
Preregistration is a promising and potentially impactful Open Science practice, but remains uncommon in animal research. This survey of animal researchers, by Cristina Priboi, Boris Mayer, Evie Vergauwe, Bernice Elger and Hanno Würbel, reveals that despite recognized benefits, preregistration is hindered by perceived bureaucracy, time costs and inflexibility. Also read the accompanying Primer by Pasquale Pellegrini and Ulf Toelch.
Image credit: Unsplash user Nikolett Emmert
07/24/2026
Research Article
How do learning processes related to reward exploitation and exploration interact with one another? Wen-Wei Lin, Ming-Tsung Tseng and co-workers show that sensitivity to punishment histories bias reward learning, increasing exploration and reducing reward maximization via dopaminergic mechanisms, with individual differences linked to loss aversion.
Image credit: pbio.3003922
07/24/2026
Research Article
Development requires precise temporal coordination of parallel cellular programs, such as molting and cell division in C. elegans larvae. Francisco Romero-Expósito, María Olmedo and co-workers reveal that reduced insulin signaling delays both processes, and that seam cell division is significantly slower as a desynchrony mechanism to realign development before the next molt.
Image credit: pbio.3003867
07/27/2026
Perspective
Structural bioinformatics aims to answer biological questions by considering biomolecular structures at scale. This Perspective argues that now that we have accurate predictions, we need to ask what we can learn from them.
Image credit: pbio.3001962
07/22/2026
Perspective
This Perspective argues that the next era of biological discovery is likely to emerge from AI-driven data reanalysis, but realizing its full potential will require standards, validation and responsible use.
Image credit: Sivan & Talia Abel
07/16/2026
Essay
Understanding how signals are exchanged across the cerebral cortex is a central challenge for theories of perception and cognition. This Essay proposes that several anatomical features of the claustrum suggest a role in signal integration.
Image credit: pbio.3003906
07/16/2026
Unsolved Mystery
G-quadruplexes are dynamic four-stranded DNA knots that may control genes, protect genomes, and drive disease, but when do they form, how do they work, and why do cells need them?
Image credit: pbio.3003874
Aging affects us all, but we still do not know how the process evolves or if we can modulate its pace. This issue of PLOS Biology presents a Collection of articles that explores different aspects of aging, discussing what challenges still need to be overcome.
This PLOS Biology collection aims to shine a light on the many facets of immunometabolism, highlighting how molecular and cellular mechanisms impact diverse tissue and organismal functions and the exciting potential for leveraging immunometabolism for therapeutic interventions.
Recent technological advancements in omics have unveiled the mechanisms governing tumor progression across spatial and temporal scales. This collection reveals the complexities of the crosstalk between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.
Neurotechnology offers unprecedented opportunities to treat neural disorders, restore brain function and enhance cognitive abilities. This collection explores the present and possible futures of neurotechnology to improve human health and cognition.
Translating conservation and biodiversity research from the field into the real world is a complex problem. This collection discusses issues around economics, policy, and how to do research that answers questions that decision makers have.
August 2 - 7
Meet Senior Editor Christian Schnell (cschnell@plos.org)
August 2 - 7
Meet Senior Editor Richard Hodge (rhodge@plos.org)
August 16 - 21
Meet Senior Editor Luke Smith (lsmith@plos.org)
August 17 - 19
Meet Associate Editor Taylor Hart (thart@plos.org)
September 14 - 15
Meet Editor in Chief Nonia Pariente (npariente@plos.org)
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