《自然》（20250410出版）一周论文导读

 

编译|李言

Nature,  10 April 2025, Volume 640 Issue 8058

《自然》2025年4月10日，第640卷，8058期

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化学Chemistry

Deconstruction of rubber via C–H amination and aza-Cope rearrangement

通过C–H胺化和aza-Cope重排对橡胶进行解构

▲ 作者：Sydney E. Towell, Maxim Ratushnyy et al.

▲ 链接：https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08716-6

▲ 摘要：

在此，我们通过C–H胺化与聚合物主链重排反应，将橡胶材料解构为环氧树脂前驱体。我们开发了一种硫二亚胺试剂，可对二烯类聚合物及橡胶实现高达约35%的烯丙位胺化修饰。随后利用阳离子2-aza-Cope重排反应，成功解构胺化二烯聚合物。

在模型系统中，我们看到聚合物分子量从58100 g mol?1降至约400 g mol?1；实际应用中，胺化处理的废旧橡胶经6小时反应即可转化为可溶性胺功能化聚合物，该产物可进一步制备具有与商用双酚A型树脂相当刚度的环氧热固材料。这项工作证明了C–H胺化与主链重排使消费后材料的化学回收成为可能。

▲ Abstract：

Here we apply C–H amination and backbone rearrangement of polymers to deconstruct these materials into precursors for epoxy resins. Specifically, we develop a sulfur diimide reagent that enables up to about 35% allylic amination of diene polymers and rubber. Then, we apply the cationic 2-aza-Cope rearrangement to deconstruct aminated diene polymers. In a model system, we see molecular weight reduction from 58,100 to approximately 400?g?mol?1, and aminated post-consumer rubber is deconstructed over 6?hours into soluble amine-functionalized polymers, which can be utilized to prepare epoxy thermosets with similar stiffnesses to commercial bisphenol A-derived resins. Altogether, this work demonstrates the power of C–H amination and backbone rearrangement to enable chemical recycling of post-consumer materials.

人工智能Artificial Intelligence

Universal photonic artificial intelligence acceleration

通用光子人工智能加速

▲ 作者：Sufi R. Ahmed, Reza Baghdadi et al.

▲ 链接：https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08854-x

▲ 摘要：

在此，我们介绍一款光子人工智能处理器，其可高效运行ResNet、BERT等先进AI模型，以及DeepMind最初展示的Atari深度强化学习算法。

该处理器在多数工作负载下达到接近电子计算精度的水平，标志着光子计算首次具备与成熟电子AI加速器竞争的实力，并为发展后晶体管计算技术迈出关键一步。

▲ Abstract：

Here we introduce a photonic AI processor that executes advanced AI models, including ResNet and BERT, along with the Atari deep reinforcement learning algorithm originally demonstrated by DeepMind. This processor achieves near-electronic precision for many workloads, marking a notable entry for photonic computing into competition with established electronic AI accelerators and an essential step towards developing post-transistor computing technologies.

地球科学Earth Science

Formation and composition of Earth’s Hadean protocrust

地球冥古宙原始地壳的形成与组成

▲ 作者：Simon Turner, Bernard Wood et al.

▲ 链接：https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08719-3

▲ 摘要：

尽管地球和其他类地行星一定有早期形成的原地壳，但这种地壳的化学成分很少受到关注。原地壳是从小行星体吸积和熔融形成的广阔岩浆海洋中提取的。实验和时间数据都表明，从这个岩浆海洋上升的硅酸盐熔体是在金属被提取形成地核的平衡状态下或之后形成的。

在此，我们的研究表明在这些条件下形成的原始地壳具有与当前平均大陆地壳非常相似的不相容（相对于硅酸盐矿物）微量元素特征。

这一发现对行星后续演化具有重大意义：现有关于板块构造启动时间与机制的诸多地球化学论证，均隐含“大陆型微量元素特征需通过俯冲作用形成”这一前提假设。若该特征实为冥古宙原始地壳的固有属性，这些传统论证将面临根本性挑战。

▲ Abstract：

Although Earth, together with other terrestrial planets, must have had an early-formed protocrust, the chemical composition of this crust has received little attention. The protocrust was extracted from an extensive magma ocean formed by accretion and melting of asteroidal bodies. Both experimental and chronological data suggest that the silicate melt ascending from this magma ocean formed in equilibrium with, or after, metal was extracted to form Earth’s core. Here we show that a protocrust formed under these conditions would have had incompatible (with respect to silicate minerals) trace-element characteristics remarkably similar to those of the current average continental crust. This has major implications for subsequent planetary evolution. Many geochemical arguments for when and how plate tectonics began implicitly assume that subduction is required to produce the continental trace-element signature. These arguments are severely compromised if this signature was already a feature of the Hadean protocrust.

Widespread slow growth of acquisitive tree species

获取型树种普遍生长缓慢

▲ 作者：L. Augusto, R. Borelle et al.

▲ 链接：https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08692-x

▲ 摘要：

在此，我们通过整合四个独立数据集，并基于功能性状值对获取型和保守型树种进行分类，揭示了传统认知与实地观测间的显著差异：理论上应快速生长的获取型树种，在野外环境中普遍表现生长缓慢。

这种悖论源于生长环境条件的制约——获取型树种需要湿润温和的气候与肥沃土壤，而野外通常难以满足这些条件。相反，被认为生长缓慢的保守型树种，由于具备耐受不良环境的能力，反而表现出更高的实际生长量。

在非热带森林中，保守型树种普遍比获取型树种生长更稳定。我们建议在能满足水热与营养需求的区域种植资源获取型树种以发挥其速生潜力，而在环境胁迫较强的地区，保守型树种具有更大的生物量固碳潜力。

▲ Abstract：

Here, by consolidating four independent datasets and classifying the acquisitive and conservative species based on their functional trait values, we show that acquisitive tree species, which are supposedly fast-growing species, generally grow slowly in field conditions. This discrepancy between the current paradigm and field observations is explained by the interactions with environmental conditions that influence growth. Acquisitive species require moist mild climates and fertile soils, conditions that are generally not met in the field. By contrast, conservative species, which are supposedly slow-growing species, show generally higher realized growth due to their ability to tolerate unfavourable environmental conditions. In general, conservative tree species grow more steadily than acquisitive tree species in non-tropical forests. We recommend planting acquisitive tree species in areas where they can realize their fast-growing potential. In other regions, where environmental stress is higher, conservative tree species have a larger potential to fix carbon in their biomass.

地理人类学Geoanthropology

Humans in Africa’s wet tropical forests 150 thousand years ago

15万年前非洲潮湿雨林中的人类活动

▲ 作者：Eslem Ben Arous, James A. Blinkhorn et al.

▲ 链接：https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08613-y

▲ 摘要：

在此，我们报道了中更新世晚期物质文化与科特迪瓦南部热带雨林环境的明确关联。

通过双生光激发发光和电子自旋共振测年方法，我们将Bété I遗址的人类活动年代精确限定在约15万年，并与智人直接关联。沉积物的植物蜡生物标志物、稳定同位素、植硅体及花粉分析均证实当时为湿润森林环境。

该成果呈现了迄今所知人类与热带雨林栖息地最早的确凿关联，其石制品组合与雨林环境的可靠对应关系表明：至迟在约15万年前，非洲森林已不构成智人扩散的显著生态屏障。

▲ Abstract：

Here we report a clear association between late Middle Pleistocene material culture and a wet tropical forest in southern C?te d’Ivoire, a region of present-day rainforest. Twinned optically stimulated luminescence and electron spin resonance dating methods constrain the onset of human occupations at Bété I to around 150?ka, linking them with Homo sapiens. Plant wax biomarker, stable isotope, phytolith and pollen analyses of associated sediments all point to a wet forest environment. The results represent the oldest yet known clear association between humans and this habitat type. The secure attribution of stone tool assemblages with the wet forest environment demonstrates that Africa’s forests were not a major ecological barrier for H. sapiens as early as around 150?ka.

农业Agriculture

Leveraging a phased pangenome for haplotype design of hybrid potato

利用分型泛基因组进行的杂交马铃薯单倍型设计

▲ 作者：Lin Cheng, Nan Wang et al.

▲ 链接：https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08476-9

▲ 摘要：

在此，构建了包含栽培二倍体马铃薯及其野生祖先种60个单倍型的相位化泛基因组图谱，并发现了转座元件在产生结构变异中的广泛存在。与线性参考基因组相比，该图谱呈现更广的遗传多样性（3076 Mb vs 742 Mb）。值得注意的是，栽培二倍体的杂合度显著高于野生种（14.0% vs 9.5%），表明马铃薯驯化过程中存在广泛杂交。

通过严格筛选，我们鉴定出19625个潜在的有害结构变异（dSVs），并揭示耦合相位中dSVs周围有害单核苷酸多态性（dSNPs）的偏向性累积。

基于此泛基因组图谱，我们通过计算设计出dSNPs和dSVs最小化的理想马铃薯单倍型。这些发现为无性繁殖的基因组基础提供了新见解，并将指导育开发优良自交系。

▲ Abstract：

Here we develop a phased potato pangenome graph of 60 haplotypes from cultivated diploids and the ancestral wild species, and find evidence for the prevalence of transposable elements in generating structural variants. Compared with the linear reference, the graph pangenome represents a broader diversity (3,076?Mb versus 742?Mb). Notably, we observe enhanced heterozygosity in cultivated diploids compared with wild ones (14.0% versus 9.5%), indicating extensive hybridization during potato domestication. Using conservative criteria, we identify 19,625 putatively deleterious structural variants (dSVs) and reveal a biased accumulation of deleterious single nucleotide polymorphisms (dSNPs) around dSVs in coupling phase. Based on the graph pangenome, we computationally design ideal potato haplotypes with minimal dSNPs and dSVs. These advances provide critical insights into the genomic basis of clonal propagation and will guide breeders to develop a suite of promising inbred lines.

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