In this blog post, we share the top-cited articles of 2025, showcasing the breadth and impact of the research published across the Royal Society's journals.
Philosophical Transactions A
Challenges and opportunities of ML and explainable AI in large-sample hydrology
Louise Slater, Georgios Blougouras, Liangkun Deng; Qimin Deng, Emma Ford, Anne Hoek van Dijke, Feini Huang, Shijie Jiang, Yinxue Liu, Simon Moulds, Andrew Schepen, Jiabo Yin and Boen Zhang
Machine learning is transforming large-sample hydrology, enabling more accurate predictions, improved modelling across diverse catchments, and deeper insights into hydrological processes. This manuscript highlights recent advances in the field, with a particular focus on emerging explainable AI (XAI) and interpretability techniques, while also examining the challenges and opportunities associated with their application.
4,594 views 1,149 PDF downloads 26 citations
This article is part the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Hydrology in the 21st century: challenges in science, to policy and practice’
Philosophical Transactions B
Belinda Reyers and Elena M Bennett
Conservation science has evolved from viewing people and nature as separate entities to recognising their deep interdependence. Building on Georgina Mace’s influential frameworks, this article explores the emerging concept of ‘people with nature’, which emphasises the inseparability of human and natural systems and offers new directions for addressing biodiversity loss in the Anthropocene.
5,984 views 1,788 PDF downloads 24 citations
This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Bending the curve towards nature recovery: building on Georgina Mace's legacy for a biodiverse future’.
Interface Focus
Water entry and exit in nature: review
Sunghwan Jung
Animals crossing the water–air interface, whether leaping, diving, or moving across the surface, use diverse strategies to capture prey and survive. This review explores the fluid mechanics behind water entry and exit in biological systems, linking them to engineering principles. It highlights shared physical forces and suggests opportunities for bio-inspired technological innovation.
2,478 views 762 PDF downloads 15 citations
Proceedings A
Quantum-corrected thermodynamics and plasma lensing of MOG black holes
Erdem Sucu and İzzet Sakallı
In this paper, researchers investigate asymptotic black holes in Modified Gravityfocusing on thermodynamics and gravitational lensing. Using tunnelling, they derive Hawking temperature showing Modified Gravity parameter increases evaporation for small black holes. Quantum corrections via the Generalized Uncertainty Principle modify results near Planck scale. Gauss–Bonnet lensing and plasma effects offer observational tests distinguishing Modified Gravity from general relativity.
168 views 52 PDF downloads 24 citations
Proceedings B
Silent cells? Potential for context-dependent gene expression in mature sperm
Rowan A Lymbery, Francisco Garcia-Gonzalez and Jonathan P Evans
Sperm have long been considered transcriptionally and translationally inactive, but emerging evidence challenges this view. This review evaluates whether ejaculated sperm may retain active gene expression potential, drawing on evidence of retained machinery, environment-dependent transcript changes, and phenotypic plasticity. It highlights implications across reproduction and evolution, and the need for direct experimental tests.
2,902 views 816 PDF downloads 14 citations
Biology Letters
A consensus on the definition of positive animal welfare
Jean-Loup Rault, Melissa Bateson, Alain Boissy, Björn Forkman, Bjørn Grinde, Lorenz Gygax, Jes Lynning Harfeld, Sara Hintze, Linda J Keeling, Lubor Kostal, Alistair B Lawrence, Michael T Mendl, Mara Miele, Ruth C Newberry, Peter Sandøe, Marek Špinka, Alex H Taylor, Laura E Webb, Laura Whalin and Margit Bak Jensen
Animal welfare science is shifting from simply reducing suffering to also promoting positive experiences. This review discusses the emerging concept of positive animal welfare, defined as animals flourishing through positive mental states, competence and resilience. It highlights a consensus framework that supports research, improves understanding of wellbeing, and informs policy and practice.
18,239 views 4,802 PDF downloads 80 citations
Watch author Jean-Loup Rault talk about his opinion piece in our seminar
Open Biology
Maura Rojas-Pirela, Diego Andrade-Alviárez, Verónica Rojas, Miguel Marcos, Daniel Salete-Granado, Marirene Chacón-Arnaude, María Á. Pérez-Nieto, Ulrike Kemmerling, Juan Luis Concepción, Paul A M Michels and Wilfredo Quiñones
Glycolysis is an ancient and essential metabolic pathway found in most organisms, converting glucose into pyruvate while generating ATP and key metabolic intermediates. Beyond energy production, it is linked to virulence, immune responses and environmental adaptation. This review explores how glycolytic enzymes contribute to disease and their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
5,424 views 871 PDF downloads 16 citations
Interface
A predictive surrogate model of blood haemodynamics for patient-specific carotid artery stenosis
Mostafa Barzegar Gerdroodbary and Sajad Salavatidezfouli
This study models blood flow in patient-specific carotid arteries with stenosis using a machine learning surrogate approach. Proper orthogonal decomposition reduces model complexity, while a long short-term memory network predicts velocity and pressure. Results show cardiac phase and stenosis strongly influence accuracy, with more complex flow increasing prediction errors.
529 views 175 PDF downloads 41 citations
Royal Society Open Science
Ethical and legal considerations in healthcare AI: innovation and policy for safe and fair use
Tuan Pham
AI is transforming healthcare through improved diagnostics, personalised treatment and greater surgical precision, but its adoption raises major ethical and legal concerns. This review examines core principles such as autonomy, justice and accountability, alongside issues of privacy, liability and bias. It highlights the need for collaborative, adaptable regulation to ensure safe, fair and trustworthy AI use.
23,843 views 4,253 PDF downloads 114 citations
Image credits:
Main image: 'Playtime in spring' by George Hodgson, entrant of the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2025
Philosophical Transactions A: Aerial view of a storm cloud over a town. Credit: iiievgeniy/iStock
Philosophical Transactions B: Aerial view of the Borneo rainforest. Credit: yusnizam/iStock
Interface Focus: Plunge-diving birds: terns (image courtesy of Jack Sutton), kingfishers (image courtesy of Skikanth Boga), pelicans (image courtesy of Ian Parker) and gannets (image courtesy of Claire Marshall) from left to right. The phylogeny is based on [64]
Proceedings A: Black Hole Square via Wikimedia commons
Proceedings B: Schematic overview illustrating context-dependent gene expression in mature, ejaculated sperm and some of its potential implications. Created in Biorender
Biology Letters: A monk parakeet allopreening (social grooming) their affiliative partner. Photo credit: Claire L O'Connell
Open Biology: The Glycolytic Enzymes-glycolysis. David Goodsell, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Interface: Produced grid for the selected carotid artery with stenosis. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2024.0774
Royal Society Open Science: Conceptual background of Artificial intelligence , humans and cyber-business on programming technology element, 3d illustration. Monsitj, iStock
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