Meet the authors: Grazia Pellicanò and Rodrigo Bermejo.

We talk to first and last authors of "Checkpoint-mediated DNA polymerase ε exonuclease activity curbing counteracts resection-driven fork collapse," Grazia Pellicanò and Rodrigo Bermejo, about their paper in this issue of Molecular Cell, the critical role of their collaborators, and the research in the Bermejo lab based in Madrid.

Voices on diversity: confronting racial bias.

As part of our commitment to amplifying the voices of underrepresented scientists, we are publishing the insights and experiences of a panel of underrepresented scientists. Here, they discuss the impact of racial bias and share strategies for addressing it. These are the personal opinions of the authors and may not reflect the views of their institutions.

Voices on diversity: overcoming our own racial biases.

As part of our commitment to amplifying the voices of underrepresented scientists, we are publishing the insights and experiences of a panel of underrepresented scientists. Here they discuss ways that individuals in the scientific community can begin to recognize and overcome their own racial biases. These are the personal opinions of the authors and may not reflect the views of their institutions.

Meet the authors: Man Yu and Zhengxin Peng.

We talk to co-first authors Man Yu and Zhengxin Peng about their paper "Interferon- gamma induces tumor resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy by promoting YAP phase separation" (in this issue of Molecular Cell), the challenges of the project, and the collaborations and support systems that were important to overcome them.

Meet the authors: Susanne Zellner, Martina Schifferer, and Christian Behrends.

Here, we talk to first author Susanne Zellner about her paper, "Systematically defining selective autophagy receptor-specific cargo using autophagosome content profiling," and the challenges of finishing it during the pandemic. We also hear from collaborator Martina Schifferer and chat with corresponding author Christian Behrends about running his lab.

Meet the authors: Max E. Wilkinson, Sebastian M. Fica, and Wojciech P. Galej.

We talk to the authors of "Structural basis for conformational equilibrium of the catalytic spliceosome" about their paper, advances in cryo-EM that made it possible, and the influence of their late mentor Kiyoshi Nagai, to whom the paper is dedicated.

Education, Experience, and Action: An Interview with Dr. Trevor K. Archer.

We asked Dr. Archer about his experiences in academia, struggles he has faced, and thoughts on addressing racial bias. We hope that this series sparks a larger discussion of issues faced by underrepresented scientists and ways the scientific community can foster diversity and better support underrepresented scientists. The opinions expressed here are those of Dr. Archer and not the NIH/NIEHS or the US government.

Cultivating a Safe Space: An Interview with Dr. Donita Brady.

Dr. Brady shares her experiences in academia, the importance of a supportive environment, and what the scientific community can do to support underrepresented scientists. We hope her perspective encourages our readers to think about steps that can be taken to promote diversity and combat racial bias. The opinions expressed here are those of Dr. Brady and may not reflect the views of her institution.

Engaging new audiences with imaging and microscopy.

In this Spotlight, we hear first-hand accounts from five scientists and educators who use microscopy and imaging to engage, entertain, educate and inspire new audiences with science and the field of developmental biology in particular. The 'voices' that follow each convey each authors' own personal take on why microscopy is such a powerful tool for capturing the minds, and the hearts, of scientists, students and the public alike. They discuss how microscopy and imaging can reveal new worlds, and improve our communication and understanding of developmental biology, as well as break down barriers and promote diversity for future generations of scientific researchers.

The people behind the papers - Masaki Kinoshita, Toshihiro Kobayashi, Hiroshi Nagashima, Ramiro Alberio and Austin Smith.

The ability to derive and maintain pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) from livestock species in defined media conditions will contribute to many new research avenues, including comparative embryology and xenotransplantation. In a new paper in Development, Masaki Kinoshita, Toshihiro Kobayashi, Hiroshi Nagashima, Ramiro Alberio, Austin Smith and colleagues describe their three-component medium, which supports long-term propagation of PSCs in the absence of feeders or serum factors. We caught up with the authors to find out more about their research and their future plans.

Celebrating Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative research odyssey from genomics to the field on his induction as Fellow of the Royal Society.

Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative impact on crop genomics, genetics, and agriculture is the result of his passion, dedication, and unyielding commitment to harnessing the potential of genomics to address the most pressing challenges faced by the global agricultural community. Starting from a small town in India and reaching the global stage, Professor Varshney's academic and professional trajectory has inspired many scientists active in research today. His ground-breaking work, especially his effort to list orphan tropical crops to genomic resource-rich entities, has been transformative. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Varshney is recognized by his colleagues as an exemplary mentor, fostering the growth of future researchers, building institutional capacity, and strengthening scientific capability. His focus on translational genomics and strengthening seed system in developing countries for the improvement of agriculture has made a tangible impact on farmers' lives. His skills have been best utilized in roles at leading research centres where he has applied his expertise to deliver a new vision for crop improvement. These efforts have now been recognized by the Royal Society with the award of the Fellowship (FRS). As we mark this significant milestone in his career, we not only celebrate Professor Varshney's accomplishments but also his wider contributions that continue to transform the agricultural landscape.