2017-10-13
封面图是利用轨道碳观测卫星2号（简称OCO-2）获取的数据，通过艺术手法描绘的地球，用来展示在亚洲、非洲部分地区，以及欧洲上空的大气二氧化碳浓度的时间平均值伪色图像。在本期中报道了OCO-2任务的初步成果，包括厄尔尼诺现象对二氧化碳通量的影响，从点源处对二氧化碳排放的检测，以及对陆地光合作用的测量。

This artist's rendition of Earth uses data obtained from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) to show a time-averaged, false-color view of the concentration of atmospheric CO2 over Asia, parts of Africa, and Europe. In this issue (see page 186), the initial results from the OCO-2 mission are reported, including El Niño's effects on CO2 fluxes, detection of CO2 emissions from point sources, and measurement of terrestrial photosynthesis.

2017-10-20
基因组学数据，包括封面图上展示的金色园蛛，以及其他种类的完整序列，颠覆了我们对蜘蛛进化的认识。同时，这些数据也揭示了蜘蛛毒液及蛛丝的分子复杂性。长期以来，很多公司一直在寻求将其商业化，但迄今为止收效甚微。

Genomics data, including full sequences of the golden orb-weaver (Nephila clavipes) and other species, are revolutionizing our understanding of spider evolution. These data are also revealing the molecular complexities of spider venom and their silk, which companies have long sought to commercialize—with little success so far.

2017-10-27
封面图展示的是一位艺术家诠释的神经系统科学团体为发展新学说所作出的共同努力。虽然在过去的几十年里，神经系统科学已经取得了巨大的进步，但是仍然没有解决在这个领域中真正深奥的问题。难道说是时候重新检视一下在过去的一个世纪里，主导这个领域的究竟是一些什么样的主要概念？

An artist's interpretation of the collective effort of the neuroscience community to develop new concepts. Despite enormous progress over the past decades, neuroscience still has not solved the really profound questions in the field. Could it be time to reconsider some of the main concepts that have dominated the field for the past century?

2017-11-03
封面图上展示的是凝缩蛋白复合物（青色部分）沿着DNA（灰白色部分）移动了几千个碱基对的距离，利用三磷酸腺苷水解为它的线性运动提供燃料。凝缩蛋白在移动过程中能够拖拽DNA与其一起移动，这就可以解释为什么染色质纤维会被调入杆状细胞有丝分裂染色体，而这正是自19世纪以来就吸引了很多细胞生物学家目光的染色体。

The condensin protein complex (teal) motors along DNA (grayish white) over distances of thousands of base pairs, using adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis to fuel its linear motion. Condensin's ability to drag DNA along as it moves can explain how chromatin fibers are folded into the rod-shaped mitotic chromosomes that have fascinated cell biologists since the 19th century.
（陶 陶　编译）■