Genome Research publishes Part 2 of the Special Issue on Long-read DNA and RNA Sequencing Applications in Biology and Medicine, a diverse collection of research, methods, and review articles offering novel biological and clinical insights gained using long-read DNA and RNA sequencing technologies and other long molecule approaches. Articles in this issue provide advances in multiple areas, including genome assembly and annotation, rare disease diagnostics, structural variation, cancer genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, and single-cell sequencing.

Current super-resolution microscopes reveal structural details but lack chemical specificity. To overcome this limitation, researchers developed structured illumination mid-infrared photothermal (SIMIP) microscopy, integrating structured illumination with mid-infrared photothermal detection. This technique enables enhanced spatial resolution and demonstrates high-speed chemical imaging. By providing nanoscale molecular insights, SIMIP opens new possibilities for biomedical research, material science, and chemical analysis, with the potential for widespread adoption in laboratories.

A recent comprehensive assessment on the poisoning of raptors across Europe does not yield good news. This is according to the new paper “Poisoning in Europe Between 1996 and 2016: A Continental Assessment of the Most Affected Species and the Most Used Poisons,” published in the Journal of Raptor Research. A large team of raptor researchers amassed retrospective data on poisoning events across 22 European countries between 1996 and 2016. Carbofuran and aldicarb were the most common toxins reported and disproportionately affected scavenging raptors, especially in Northern Europe. As high-level participants in trophic interactions and providers of ecosystem services, raptors are crucial agents of Europe’s ecological health. These poisonings are, therefore, troubling. They are also illegal.