11/04/2025
Short Reports
Mammalian muscle fiber contractions require voltage-gated Na+ channels, and this has been assumed to be universal. Léa Demesmay, Romane Idoux, Sophie Nicole, Bruno Allard and co-workers show that zebrafish fast muscle fibers do not require these channels and suggest how anatomical and physiological differences from mouse muscles can ensure efficient contraction.
Image credit: pbio.3003484
Current Issue October 2025
11/04/2025
Research Article
Pluripotent cells acquire lineage-specific identities during germ layer specification, but the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Clark Hendrickson, Ken Cho and co-authors show that the maternal transcription factors Foxi2 and Sox3 act as master regulators of ectodermal germ layer specification in Xenopus, ensuring the robust and precise expression of target genes.
Image credit: pbio.3003476
11/04/2025
Short Reports
Oxygen supersaturation in aquatic ecosystems has been proposed to buffer against heat stress in water-breathing animals. Graham Raby, Fredrik Jutfelt and colleagues re-examine this question in a diverse panel of aquatic ectotherms, showing that hyperoxia has minimal impact on thermal tolerance. Don't miss the accompanying Primer by Diana Madeira.
Image credit: pbio.3003413
11/04/2025
Research Article
How does an animal’s internal state influence early visual processing? Matteo Tripodi and Hiroki Asari show that histaminergic signaling from the hypothalamus modulates retinal and thalamic responses in mice, revealing how low histamine levels during periods of reduced activity may aid rapid responses to visual threats. Also read the related Primer by Dominic Gonschorek and Thomas Euler.
Image credit: pbio.3003406
11/03/2025
Short Reports
The evolution of complex adaptations often involves synergistic changes in multiple traits that lack standalone function. Benito Wainwright, Nathan Bailey and co-workers reveal that leaf masquerade in katydids evolved through concurrent modifications in wing colour and shape, demonstrating how evolutionary synergy can drive the emergence of highly specialized, multi-component traits in nature.
Image credit: pbio.3003468
11/03/2025
Short Reports
Haplodiploid inheritance, in which females are diploid and males are haploid, is found in all species of Hymenoptera. Tilman Rönneburg, Matthew Webster and co-authors map the sex-determining gene of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis to a region overlapping the ANTSR gene, suggesting a shared, ancient origin of sex determination in bees and ants >150 million years ago.
Image credit: Marie Louise Huskens
10/30/2025
Perspective
Incomplete characterization and inconsistent reporting of lab animal genetics undermine research reproducibility. This Perspective highlights the LAG-R guidelines and calls for collective action to enhance scientific integrity.
Image credit: Lydia Teboul
10/22/2025
Essay
Mitochondrial dynamics are important regulators of various cancer cell phenotypes. This Essay discusses the role of mitochondrial dynamic regulators in tumor growth and metastasis and explores how they can be targeted therapeutically.
Image credit: pbio.3003453
10/21/2025
Community Page
Science projects are designed and funded on the scale of years, so what happens when you need to finish prematurely? This Community Page discusses solutions for finalizing partially finished projects.
Image credit: Unsplash user Mantas Hesthaven
10/21/2025
Essay
Disease-associated microglia are a distinct, conserved microglial state. This Essay discusses the dynamics, origins and therapeutic potential of these microglia in neurodegeneration.
Image credit: pbio.3003426
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.
Symbiosis research has become a holistic and pervasive field with a mature theoretical basis. This collection showcases symbiotic relationships across the tree of life, exploring their evolutionary basis and underlying mechanisms.
PLOS Biology is 20 and we are celebrating with a collection that contains articles that look back at landmark studies that we published, others that look past and future, and others discussing how publishing and open science have evolved and what is to come.
.
November 11 - 14
Meet Senior Editor Richard Hodge (rhodge@plos.org)
November 15 - 19
Meet Associate Editor Taylor Hart (thart@plos.org)
November 25 - 27
Meet Senior Editor Roland Roberts (rroberts@plos.org)
December 15 - 16
Meet Editor in Chief Nonia Pariente (npariente@plos.org)
Connect with Us