2017-09-15
封面上展示的是1块14.6千克碘化铯晶体的2千克重样品原型，用于探测相干中微子。这个闪烁体探测器被封装在太平洋西北国家实验室开发的超纯电铸成形铜中。利用从1艘西班牙大帆船中回收的古老的、无放射性的铅，屏蔽光电倍增器上方电子元件的放射性排放。

Two-kilogram prototype of a 14.6-kilogram cesium iodide crystal used for coherent neutrino detection. The scintillator is encapsulated in ultrapure electroformed copper developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Ancient, radioisotope-free lead recovered from a Spanish galleon is used to block radioactive emissions from electronic components above the photomultiplier.

2017-09-22
封面上展示的是1只2周大的小猪仔，通过基因编辑工程使其基因组无法激活猪内源性逆转录病毒（简称PERVs）。这种动物来自于利用CRISPR（规律间隔性成簇短回文重复序列的简称）技术制造的细胞系，从而消除了猪基因组内的内源病毒PERVs，这种可能的病毒传播会阻碍有效的异种器官移植。这项工作解决了跨物种病毒传播的安全隐患，使我们离可靠的猪器官人体移植又近了一步。

A 2-week-old piglet whose genome has been engineered to inactivate porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs). This animal is from a cell line created using CRISPR technology to inactivate PERVs, the possible transmission of which has hindered effective xenotransplantation. This work addresses safety concerns about crosss-pecies viral transmission and brings us one step closer to reliable pig-to-human organ transplants.

2017-09-29
封面上展示的是一些保存在酒精中的日本沿海海洋物种实例，这些生物在2011年东日本地震和海啸发生后，横跨太平洋漂流到了夏威夷群岛和北美洲。牡蛎养殖场中的叶牡蛎、水螅虫和苔藓虫，包括被当作废弃物的物种，通通漂流到了南部海域。人们越来越关注海洋废弃物在运输，以及引进非本土物种方面所扮演的角色。

Examples of Japanese coastal marine species, preserved in alcohol, that rafted across the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands and North America after the 2011 East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Oyster farm line supports the leaf oyster (Dendostrea folium), hydroids, and bryozoans, including species acquired as debris drifted into southern waters. Concerns are mounting about the role of marine debris in transporting and introducing non-native species.

2017-10-06
封面图展示的是通过艺术手法描绘的如何检测一个细胞的遗传“指纹”。虽然实际上我们并不能通过一个放大镜看到单个细胞，但是单细胞基因组学为我们提供了一个可能性。为了更好地理解我们自己，科学家们致力于确定每个细胞的不同特质，以及细胞之间的相互关系。本期中的特别章节关注的就是这个领域的现状，强调了技术进步及生物学发现，特别是那些与发展、免疫学和神经生物学有关的研究。

Artist's concept of examining a cell's genetic "fingerprint." Although we cannot actually see into individual cells via a magnifying glass, single-cell genomics offers the next best thing. In a quest to better understand ourselves, we aim to determine the distinct qualities of each cell, as well as intercellular relationships. This special issue focuses on the state of the field, highlighting technological progress and biological findings, especially those relevant to development, immunology, and neurobiology.
（陶 陶　编译）■