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<jats:title>Vivax malaria host receptor</jats:title> <jats:p> Human malaria is caused by half a dozen species of <jats:italic>Plasmodium</jats:italic> protozoan parasites, each with distinctive biology. <jats:italic>P. vivax</jats:italic> , which causes relapsing malaria, specifically parasitizes immature red blood cells called reticulocytes. Gruszczyk <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> identified TfR1 (host transferrin receptor 1) as an alternative receptor for <jats:italic>P. vivax</jats:italic> . TfR1 binds to a specific <jats:italic>P. vivax</jats:italic> surface protein. However, the parasite that causes cerebral malaria, <jats:italic>P. falciparum</jats:italic> , does not share TfR1 as a receptor: <jats:italic>P. falciparum</jats:italic> could still infect cells in which TfR1 expression was knocked down, but <jats:italic>P. vivax</jats:italic> could not. Monoclonal antibodies to the <jats:italic>P. vivax</jats:italic> protein successfully hindered <jats:italic>P. vivax</jats:italic> infection of red blood cells. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6371" page="48" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="359" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aan1078">48</jats:related-article> </jats:p>

<jats:title>Examining the consequences of selfing</jats:title> <jats:p> The <jats:italic>Caenorhabditis</jats:italic> genus of nematodes includes a mix of closely related outcrossing and self-fertilizing (selfing) species. Genome size differs widely among these different species. Yin <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> generated a genome assembly for the outcrossing nematode <jats:italic>C. nigoni</jats:italic> and compared it with that of its close relative, the selfing <jats:italic>C. briggsae. C. briggsae</jats:italic> has experienced a substantial decrease in genome size since the two species' recent divergence. The underlying causes of this size difference appear to involve a decrease in protein-coding genes and changes in other types of sequences that have homology with RNAs expressed primarily in <jats:italic>C. nigoni</jats:italic> males. One of the implicated gene families, the mss family, compromises sperm competitiveness. Thus, in nematodes, selfing appears to result in a decrease in genome size owing to selection to reduce male reproductive function. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6371" page="55" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="359" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aao0827">55</jats:related-article> </jats:p>

<jats:title>Liquids show their strength</jats:title> <jats:p> Dielectric elastomer actuators are electrically powered muscle mimetics that offer high actuation strain and high efficiency but are limited by failure caused by high electric fields and aging. Acome <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> used a liquid dielectric, rather than an elastomeric polymer, to solve a problem of catastrophic failure in dielectric elastomer actuators. The dielectric's liquid nature allowed it to self-heal—something that would not be possible with a solid dielectric. The approach allowed the authors to exploit electrostatic and hydraulic forces to achieve muscle-like contractions in a powerful but delicate gripper. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6371" page="61" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="359" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aao6139">61</jats:related-article> </jats:p>

<jats:title>Cassini enters Saturn's ionosphere</jats:title> <jats:p> The upper reaches of most planetary atmospheres contain a layer that is ionized by incoming solar radiation—the ionosphere. As it went through its final orbits around Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft dipped close enough to the planet to pass directly through the ionosphere. Wahlund <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> examined the plasma data collected in situ and found that Saturn's ionosphere is highly variable and interacts with the planet's inner ring. They also observed decreases in ionization within regions shaded from the Sun by the rings. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6371" page="66" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="359" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aao4134">66</jats:related-article> </jats:p>