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This PrimeView highlights how different primary ion beams can be used to sample different surface species.

Solid samples can be imaged and chemically analysed using secondary ion mass spectrometry. This Primer describes the secondary ion mass spectrometry experimental setup, in which a primary ion beam sputters secondary ions that are analysed and detected by a mass spectrometer, and explores applications in materials, geological and life sciences.

This PrimeView highlights the different types of reporter tags that can be paired with photoreactive groups for photoaffinity labeling.

Photoaffinity labelling (PAL) enables the direct mapping of interactions of small molecules with proteins. In this Primer, Homan et al. discuss the basic principles and considerations involved in the design and implementation of PAL reagents and methods.

This PrimeView highlights the structures formed with different freeze casting moulds.

Freeze casting involves directional solidification of solutions or slurries followed by removal of the solid solvent phase. This Primer introduces the freeze casting technique, including experimental and analysis methods, with a particular focus on using X-ray tomoscopy for real-time, 3D observations of freeze casting dynamics.

This PrimeView highlights the use of quantitative text analysis in various analytical tasks, from categorizing information to analyzing sentiment and making predictions.

Quantitative text analysis is a range of computational methods to analyse text data statistically and mathematically. In this Primer, Kristoffer Nielbo et al. introduce the methods, principles and applications of the quantitative text analysis across disciplines.

Single-case experimental designs are rapidly growing in popularity. This popularity needs to be accompanied by transparent and well-justified methodological and statistical decisions. Appropriate experimental design including randomization, proper data handling and adequate reporting are needed to ensure reproducibility and internal validity. The degree of generalizability can be assessed through replication.

This PrimeView highlights how to overcome challenges when performing fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared window.

Deep tissues can be imaged with high resolution and greater contrast by performing fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. This Primer summarizes how NIR-II fluorescence imaging can be used in animal models, exploring commonly used fluorophores and implementation approaches across a range of scientific and clinical applications.

This PrimeView highlights the fluorophores used in smFRET experiments and how they affect measurement of energy transfer at the single-molecule level.

Analysing single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) enables an unprecedented view of the dynamics and kinetics of biomolecular conformational changes and interactions. In this Primer, Ha et al. discuss technological advances that have led to smFRET and how the method can be adapted to address various research questions in structural and molecular biology.

This PrimeView highlights the range of applications of biocarbon materials including composite materials, energy storage and conversion, and environmental remediation.

Biocarbons are carbonaceous solids derived from renewable and sustainable feedstocks through thermochemical conversion at high temperatures. In this Primer, Mohanty et al. discuss feedstock selection, pyrolysis techniques and post-modification strategies, as well as waste reduction and the economic impact of biocarbons.

This PrimeView highlights future applications of graph neural networks.

Graph neural networks are a class of deep learning methods that can model physical systems, generate new molecules and identify drug candidates. This Primer introduces graph neural networks and explores how they are applied across the life and physical sciences.

This PrimeView highlights experimental set-ups for performing x-ray diffraction in a grazing incidence geometry.

Structures of surfaces and thin films can be investigated by performing X-ray diffraction under grazing incidence conditions. This Primer explores how grazing incidence X-ray diffraction is used to obtain crystallographic information, including in situ characterization, data collection, analysis and visualization, across a range of applications.

This PrimeView highlights how artificial molecular pumps can be designed to harness an external energy source to accomplish a desired synthetic task.